construe

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "construe" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the interpretation or understanding of a statement, action, or situation. Example: "Different cultures may construe the same gesture in various ways, leading to misunderstandings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Too many on the left construe co-optation in terms of an iron law demonstrating the inadequacy of the party as a form for radical politics.

The Guardian - Opinion

And based on how the court's previous decisions construe the 14th amendment, upholding the ban will be in keeping with the court's equal-protection jurisprudence over the past few decades.That said, the 58% of Michigan voters who added the affirmative-action ban to their constitution have decreased minority enrollments in their state.

The Economist

All the justices must do, the argument goes, is to include a class of people who have been shut out first implicitly, and then, with state bans in the 1990s and ballot initiatives in the early 2000s, explicitly from one of life's great opportunities.This argument urges the justices to construe the history of marriage rights quite broadly.

The Economist

Only the paranoid can construe this as a threat to Venezuela or the Amazon.

The Economist

She declined ostensibly for lack of evidence, but more probably for fear of taking action that Indonesia's Islamic parties might construe as siding with the West in a global war of religions.If all goes well, the horror of Bali may in time strengthen the East Asian front of the war against terrorismEven before Bali, this calculation was probably over-cautious.

The Economist

It has now become quite risky to be a foreign researcher or businessman in Russia if your field of interest includes anything that a spy-catcher could possibly construe as secret.

The Economist

One would be hard-pressed to construe the Spanish government as tyrannical and oppressive, yet ETA still bombs away.Terrorists vocalise an empty rhetoric in pursuit of their goals.

The Economist

As for what the West would construe as a happy ending the emergence of a federal democracy in Iraq this would complicate the Saud family's efforts to maintain its totalitarianism.

The Economist

But not until 1947 did the Supreme Court construe this to mean that a wall between church and state "must be kept high and impregnable".

The Economist

What you think of as cautious politesse, Israelis might construe as evasiveness or uncertainty.

The Economist

The members of the court, steeped in the old system, tend to construe their role as narrowly and technically as possible.A radical achievementBut a little backsliding is only natural.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "construe" when you want to emphasize a specific way of understanding or interpreting something, especially when multiple interpretations are possible. For example, "One might construe the data as supporting either hypothesis."

Common error

Avoid using "construe" when simpler words like "understand" or "interpret" suffice. Overusing "construe" can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or pretentious. For example, instead of saying "I construe your meaning", say "I understand what you mean."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "construe" is as a transitive verb. It requires an object, indicating what is being interpreted or explained. Ludwig shows that it is used to describe how individuals or groups understand or interpret events, statements, or actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "construe" is a versatile verb meaning to interpret or explain something in a particular way. As Ludwig AI confirms, it often implies a subjective or debatable interpretation, and is most frequently found in formal and scientific writing. While grammatically sound, it's essential to avoid overusing "construe" in simple contexts where clearer alternatives like "understand" or "interpret" would suffice. Its formal tone makes it well-suited for academic, professional, and analytical discussions, but less ideal for casual conversation. Its prominence in sources like The Economist and the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy underscores its authority and reliability as a linguistic choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

interpret

A general synonym indicating the act of explaining the meaning of something.

understand

Focuses on grasping the meaning or significance of something.

understand as

Specifies a particular understanding or interpretation.

explain

Implies making something clear or intelligible.

take to mean

Highlights a specific interpretation or understanding.

deduce

Involves drawing a conclusion based on evidence or reasoning.

infer

Suggests arriving at a conclusion through reasoning or implication.

perceive

Emphasizes the way something is regarded or understood.

view as

Highlights a particular perspective or opinion.

regard as

Similar to "view as", but can also suggest a more formal or considered judgment.

FAQs

How to use "construe" in a sentence?

The verb "construe" means to interpret something in a particular way. For example: "The media might construe the politician's statement as an admission of guilt." It often implies that the interpretation is subjective or debatable.

What can I say instead of "construe"?

You can use alternatives like "interpret", "understand", "explain", or "view as" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "construe" in everyday conversation?

While grammatically correct, "construe" is generally more appropriate for formal writing and speech. Simpler words like "think" or "understand" are often preferred in casual conversation.

What's the difference between "construe" and "misinterpret"?

"Construe" simply means to interpret, without necessarily implying an error. "Misinterpret", on the other hand, means to interpret incorrectly or misunderstand. Thus, the latter suggests a flawed or inaccurate understanding.