reconstruct

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "reconstruct" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe the process of rebuilding something that has been damaged or destroyed. Example sentence: Engineers have been working to reconstruct the bridge, which was destroyed in the earthquake.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Arts

Tech

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Who decides what to reconstruct, where, when and in what order?

The Guardian

"Clearly the war and the fact Germany had to reconstruct itself spiritually as well as physically means it is a much more reflective society than ours.

The Guardian - Arts

"We translate lines into Old Norse and Old English, use pre-Conquest missals for religious scenes and reconstruct locations and events from contemporary chronicles – inasmuch as that's possible in the nineth century," he says.

The Guardian - Film

It is often the next generation who really try to reconstruct what happened," Dugot told the Observer.

The Guardian - Arts

He cites ancient ­China's premier historian, Sima Qian, who recorded a remarkable building programme pursued by China's first ruling dynasty, the Qin: "Whenever Qin conquered one of its rivals, it would commission replicas of its ­palaces and halls and reconstruct them on the slope north of the capital.

The Guardian - Arts

"My story is of the resurgence of Kalinga nationalism under one dynasty: not only did it reconstruct Kalinga as a vibrant nation, it also went on to capture Magadh, the seat of Ashoka, 100 years after his demise.

The Guardian

"Our brains reconstruct the past based on our present values.

The Guardian - Tech

"But digital memories will only remind us of the failures of our past, so that we have no ability to forget or reconstruct our past.

The Guardian - Tech

The committee asked DfID to set up a global conference in 2015 to agree a common plan to reconstruct health systems in the region, which it said were already fragile before the outbreak.

The Guardian

He has found that, though they are similar, they are different enough to confirm that modern people probably do not have any Neanderthal ancestors.Despite the fantasies of "Jurassic Park", it will never be possible to reconstruct creatures that are millions of years old by reassembling their DNA into working genes; DNA molecules simply do not last that long.

The Economist

Adam Zamoyski, whose previous book, "1812", told the tale of the French emperor's disastrous Russian campaign, now turns his attention to the victors' efforts to reconstruct Europe after his defeat.His book is old-fashioned, impressively detailed diplomatic history; it deals with the fate of nations and dynasties and the doings of emperors, kings and princes.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "reconstruct", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being rebuilt or restored. Specify the original state and the process of rebuilding for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "reconstruct" in overly abstract contexts where a simpler word like "rebuild" or "restore" would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "reconstruct" is as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. It describes the action of rebuilding or restoring something that has been damaged or destroyed. Ludwig confirms this usage with numerous examples of "reconstruct" followed by a noun.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Arts

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb "reconstruct" is a versatile term used to describe the process of rebuilding or restoring something. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and very common, particularly in News & Media contexts. While alternatives like "rebuild" and "restore" exist, "reconstruct" often implies a more intricate and detailed process. Remember to use it in contexts where the act of rebuilding or restoring is clearly defined to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rebuild

Focuses specifically on building again from a state of destruction.

restore

Emphasizes returning something to its original condition.

recreate

Highlights the act of creating something again, possibly in a new form.

re-establish

Stresses the act of making something exist again.

remodel

Suggests altering the structure or form of something.

renovate

Implies improving or repairing something to a better condition.

redevelop

Focuses on developing something again, often with improvements.

piece back together

Suggests a more fragmented or broken state requiring assembly.

put back together

A more general term for assembling something from separate parts.

reconstitute

Implies returning something to its original form by reassembling its components.

FAQs

How do you use "reconstruct" in a sentence?

Use "reconstruct" to describe the process of building or creating something again after it has been damaged or destroyed. For example, "Engineers worked to reconstruct the bridge after the earthquake."

What can I say instead of "reconstruct"?

You can use alternatives like "rebuild", "restore", or "recreate" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "reconstruct" or "rebuild"?

Both "reconstruct" and "rebuild" are correct, but "reconstruct" often implies a more complex or intricate process of rebuilding something to its original state, while "rebuild" is a more general term.

What's the difference between "reconstruct" and "restore"?

"Reconstruct" implies building something again, often from damaged parts, while "restore" means returning something to its former condition, which might involve repair or cleaning rather than complete rebuilding.