Definitions
01an abstract idea
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Academic
n. a general idea or a principle about how something works.
n. an abstract or general idea derived from specific instances; often used to describe theoretical frameworks.
“The concept of time travel is very popular in science fiction movies.”
“The professor introduced the concept of social capital, explaining how networks of relationships can function as a resource within a community.”
02a design or model
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a new idea for a product or a building that shows what it might look like.
n. a preliminary design or model intended to demonstrate a new product, vehicle, or architectural project.
“The company showed a concept car that runs entirely on solar energy.”
“The architects presented a concept for the new library that prioritised natural light and open communal spaces.”
03programming constraint
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Computing Technical
n. a rule in computer programming that describes what a certain type of data can do.
n. a description of supported operations on a type, including their syntax and semantics, used to constrain template arguments.
“The programmer used a concept to make sure the code only accepted numbers.”
“By defining a specific concept for the template, the developer ensured that the compiler would catch type mismatches before runtime.”
Synonyms
04to dream up
C1 · Advanced Informal
v. to think of a new idea or to imagine something.
v. to conceive or develop an initial idea or design; often used in creative industries.
“The team spent the afternoon trying to concept a new marketing campaign.”
“The creative director was tasked to concept the entire visual identity of the brand within a single weekend.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “concept” in context.
Verb
01. apply concept
“Students were asked to apply the concept of gravity to their physics experiments.”
verb + noun
02. define concept
“It is difficult to define the concept of beauty because it is so subjective.”
verb + noun
03. develop concept
“The marketing team worked hard to develop a new concept for the advertising campaign.”
verb + noun
04. discuss concept
“In the seminar, we will discuss the concept of social justice in modern society.”
verb + noun
05. explain concept
“The teacher used a simple analogy to explain the concept of photosynthesis.”
verb + noun
06. express concept
“Artists often use abstract shapes to express complex concepts of emotion.”
verb + noun
Adjective
07. abstract concept
“Freedom is an abstract concept that can mean different things to different people.”
adj + noun
08. central concept
“The central concept of the movie is that love can conquer all obstacles.”
adj + noun
09. crucial concept
“Supply and demand is a crucial concept for any economics student to master.”
adj + noun
Noun
10. concept emerge
“A new concept emerged during the brainstorming session that changed our strategy.”
noun + verb
11. concept imply
“This legal concept implies that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.”
noun + verb
12. bring concept
Real-World Examples
“They can break down complex financial concepts and provide financial solutions in seconds.” “The first die was made from pine as a proof of concept.” “He went Interrailing the day after, which is when it transpired that the app was unable to get its head around the concept of a train.” Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/concept
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0