to interpret the meaning of (something): you can construe that in different ways - (may take a clause as object)
to discover by inference; deduce to analyse the grammatical structure of; parse (esp a Latin or Greek text as a preliminary to translation) to combine (words) syntactically - (also intr)
to translate literally, esp aloud as an academic exercise
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
con•strue /kənˈstru/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object + as + object], -strued, -stru•ing.
con•stru•a•ble, adj.
con•stru•al, n. [uncountable]
con•stru•er, n. [countable]See -stru-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to explain the meaning of; interpret:My comments were incorrectly construed as criticism.
con•stru•a•ble, adj.
con•stru•al, n. [uncountable]
con•stru•er, n. [countable]See -stru-.
con•strue
(v. kən stro̅o̅′ or, esp. Brit., kon′stro̅o̅;n. kon′stro̅o̅),USA pronunciation v., -strued, -stru•ing, n.
v.t.
v.i.
n.
con•stru′er, n.
v.t.
- to give the meaning or intention of;
explain;
interpret. - to deduce by inference or interpretation;
infer:He construed her intentions from her gestures. - to translate, esp. orally.
- Grammarto analyze the syntax of;
to rehearse the applicable grammatical rules of:to construe a sentence. - Grammarto arrange or combine (words, phrases, etc.) syntactically.
v.i.
- Grammarto admit of grammatical analysis or interpretation.
n.
- the act of construing.
- something that is construed.
- Latin construere to put together, build, equivalent. to con- con- + struere to pile up, arrange, perh. akin to sternere to spread, strew; see stratum
- Middle English construen 1325–75
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'be construed as' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):