What does concocting mean?
Concocting is the present participle of the verb "concoct," which carries two closely related senses. Its original meaning is culinary: to prepare a dish or drink by combining various ingredients, often in an improvised or experimental way — as in concocting a stew out of leftovers. By extension, it came to mean inventing or devising something intangible, such as a story, plan, alibi, or excuse. In this figurative sense, the word frequently implies that whatever has been created is elaborate, contrived, or even deceptive, which is why journalists and detectives speak of suspects concocting tales. The word derives from Latin concoquere, meaning "to cook thoroughly" or "digest," formed from con- ("together") and coquere ("to cook"). This makes it a direct cousin of "cook" itself, and more surprisingly of "precocious," which originally described fruit ripening early. Whether the context is a bubbling pot or a suspicious cover story, concocting always conveys the idea of ingredients — literal or figurative — being mixed into something new.
verbThe present participle and gerund of "concoct": to make or prepare something, especially a dish or drink, by mixing various ingredients; or to invent or devise a story, plan, or excuse, often one that is elaborate or deceitful.
- (of a dish or drink) preparing by mixing ingredients; cooking up.
- Inventing or devising something — typically a story, scheme, or excuse — often implying elaborateness or deceit.
"She spent the afternoon concocting a new soup from whatever the fridge had left."
"He was in the kitchen concocting a curry from leftovers."
"The suspect was accused of concocting an elaborate alibi."
"Concoct" literally means "to cook together" in Latin — so every lie you've ever cooked up has been, etymologically speaking, simmered on the stove.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of concocting
Concocting comes from the Latin verb concoquere, meaning "to cook thoroughly" or "to digest," formed from the prefix con- ("together") plus coquere ("to cook"). English adopted the verb "concoct" in the early modern period, around the sixteenth century, first for digesting or boiling substances and later extended to mixing ingredients in cookery. The figurative sense of inventing stories or schemes developed naturally from this idea of combining elements into something new. It shares its Latin root with "cook" itself, as well as with words like "precocious" (originally "ripening early") and "decoction."
Related word forms
How concocting is actually used
Neutral when applied to food and drink; when applied to stories, plans, or excuses, it frequently carries a hint of suspicion or disapproval, suggesting the thing invented is contrived or untrue. Common in both everyday speech and journalism.