reconstruct

reconstruct — verb

1. to build something again after it has been damaged, destroyed, or fallen apart —

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

to build something again after it has been damaged, destroyed, or fallen apart — for example, reconstructing a house after a storm, or a church after a fire.

例句

After the flood, Pim and his team worked for months to reconstruct the village school.

passive avoided; active with named agent

The old wooden church was carefully reconstructed using the original blueprints from 1892.

passive: be reconstructed + using [materials/documents]

同義詞
  • rebuild

    more common and less formal; interchangeable for physical structures

  • restore

    focuses on returning something to its original condition, not just rebuilding it

  • reassemble

    implies putting existing pieces back together rather than building anew

反義詞
  • destroy

    opposite action

  • demolish

    implies deliberate taking down of a structure

文法句型

reconstruct + noun phrase (something damaged/destroyed)

用法筆記

Often used in the passive voice when the person or group doing the work is unknown or obvious from context (e.g. 'The temple was reconstructed in the 1990s').

常見錯誤

❌I reconstructed the small crack in my phone screen.
✅I repaired the small crack in my phone screen.
💡'reconstruct' implies major rebuilding, not minor fixes.
❌She reconstructed her bookshelf by moving the top shelf down.
✅She rearranged her bookshelf.
💡'reconstruct' is not used for simple rearrangement.

2. to fundamentally change how an organisation, system, or process is structured an

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to fundamentally change how an organisation, system, or process is structured and operated, with the goal of making it function more effectively — for example, reconstructing a company's supply chain or a country's healthcare system.

例句

Henrik was brought in to reconstruct the hospital's outdated booking system.

formal register: organisation/system context

The government announced plans to reconstruct the national rail network after years of delays.

passive: be reconstructed [by a government or authority]

同義詞
  • overhaul

    implies thorough examination and improvement; more informal

  • restructure

    focuses on changing the arrangement or hierarchy of an organisation

  • reform

    suggests correcting faults or abuses, often in a political or social context

反義詞
  • dismantle

    to take apart a system or organisation rather than rebuild it

  • maintain

    to keep the existing system as it is

文法句型

reconstruct + noun phrase (system / organization / process)

用法筆記

The subject is typically an organisation, institution, or person in a position of authority. Avoid using this sense for minor adjustments — 'reconstruct' implies a fundamental overhaul.

常見錯誤

❌I reconstructed my study schedule for next week.
✅I reorganised my study schedule for next week.
💡'reconstruct' is too strong for routine personal changes.
❌The chef reconstructed the menu by adding two new dishes.
✅The chef updated the menu by adding two new dishes.
💡adding items is not a complete overhaul.

3. to use available information to build a detailed picture of a past event, situat

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to use available information to build a detailed picture of a past event, situation, or process — for example, detectives reconstructing a crime from evidence, or scientists reconstructing ancient climates from fossils.

例句

Detective Adaeze reconstructed what happened the night of the fire using phone records and photos.

reconstruct + what-clause

Scientists reconstructed the climate of the Ice Age by studying layers of ice from Greenland.

同義詞
  • piece together

    less formal; emphasises the process of assembling fragments

  • recreate

    broader meaning; can include imaginative as well as evidence-based reconstruction

  • re-enact

    focuses on physically acting out the event, not just describing it

文法句型

reconstruct + noun phrase (past event / scene)

reconstruct + what / how / where clause

用法筆記

Frequently followed by a wh-clause (reconstruct what / how / where). Common in crime investigation, historical research, archaeology, and forensic science writing.

常見錯誤

❌I reconstructed what my friend said to me yesterday.
✅I remembered what my friend said to me yesterday.
💡'reconstruct' implies carefully piecing together multiple sources of evidence, not simple recall.
❌She reconstructed the story she read in a book.
✅She retold the story she read in a book.
💡'reconstruct' is used for building a picture of real events, not retelling fiction.