construe

verb
UK: /kənˈstruː/
US: /kənˈstruː/

  1. To understand or explain something in a particular way.

    1. We must construe his words carefully to understand the full meaning.
    2. The judge construed the law in a way that favored the defendant, surprising many observers.

  2. To interpret a word or action in a specific way.

    1. Don't construe my silence as agreement; I'm still thinking.
    2. His willingness to help should not be construed as an admission of guilt in the matter.

Synonyms

interpret understand explain take see read analyze deduce

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "construe" in English means: To understand or explain something in a particular way., To interpret a word or action in a specific way..

The phonetic transcription of "construe" is /kənˈstruː/ in British English and /kənˈstruː/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "construe": interpret, understand, explain, take, see, read, analyze, deduce.

Example usage of "construe": "We must construe his words carefully to understand the full meaning.". More examples on the page.