Words carry meaning in layers. Think about the word “spirit”-it might conjure thoughts of the human soul, or it might make you think of alcohol as a preservative. The difference between these meanings is at the heart of abstract versus concrete language. Understanding how words shift between abstract and concrete uses helps us communicate more precisely and interpret language more accurately.
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What makes a meaning abstract or concrete?
Concrete concepts are grounded in sensory-motor information-things you can see, touch, hear, taste, or smell. When you say “table,” “apple,” or “thunder,” you’re referring to objects or events available to your senses. Abstract meanings, by contrast, involve linguistic and emotional information rather than physical referents. Words like “justice,” “freedom,” or “happiness” don’t point to tangible objects but to complex mental states and relationships.
What gets interesting is when the same word carries both types of meaning. The word “force” can mean a military unit-something you could observe and count-or it can mean an abstract power or influence. “Head” might refer to the physical part of your body or to a leadership position. These dual meanings emerge through a linguistic process called polysemy, where a single word develops multiple related senses over time.
How words develop dual meanings
Words rarely maintain just one meaning throughout their history. Research estimates that 40% of frequent English words are polysemous, carrying multiple related meanings. This happens through metaphorical extension-when abstract concepts borrow from concrete ones. Consider “support”: it started as a concrete term for a physical structure holding weight, then extended metaphorically to mean the help or approval given to ideas or people.
The word “bank” demonstrates this perfectly. Its concrete meaning refers to land alongside water-something you can stand on and see. Its more abstract meaning refers to a financial institution, which exists as a concept more than a physical place. Despite their differences, these meanings share a conceptual connection: both involve repositories or edges that contain something.
Common words with abstract and concrete meanings
Spirit: Concrete meaning refers to alcohol used as a preservative or drink. Abstract meaning involves the soul, essential character, or prevailing mood of something.
Force: Concrete usage describes a military unit or group of people. Abstract usage refers to strength, power, or influence that affects outcomes.
Head: Concrete meaning points to the physical body part. Abstract meanings include being in charge, the front or top position, or even the foam on beer.
Paper: Concretely, it’s the thin material made from cellulose pulp. Abstractly, it can mean a newspaper, an academic article, or examination questions.
Point: The concrete sense refers to a sharp end or specific location. The abstract sense involves a purpose, argument, or particular detail in discussion.
These examples show how linguistic concreteness operates on a spectrum. The same word shifts meaning based on how it’s used, who’s using it, and what context surrounds it.
Using context to identify meaning
Context acts as the primary mechanism for resolving which meaning a word carries in any given instance. When you encounter “She’s the head of the department,” several contextual clues tell you this uses the abstract leadership meaning rather than the concrete body part meaning. The verb “is” connects to a position or role, and “department” signals an organizational structure.
Contextual signals that clarify meaning
Surrounding words provide critical clues. If someone says “the bank of the river,” the word “river” immediately anchors “bank” to its concrete geographical meaning. Say “I need to visit the bank” without additional context, and the financial meaning becomes more likely in modern usage, though the sentence remains ambiguous.
Sentence structure also guides interpretation. Research shows that the meaning of a sentence is influenced by how abstract and concrete words combine. When concrete and abstract words appear together, readers process them differently based on which type comes first and how they interact syntactically.
The broader situation matters too. In a conversation about military strategy, “force” likely refers to troops. In a physics discussion, it probably means energy or power. Professional contexts often activate specific meanings-lawyers might use “party” to mean participants in a case, while party planners use it to mean a celebration.
Strategies for determining word meaning
First, identify what the word could refer to physically. Can you touch it, see it, or measure it directly? If yes, you’re likely dealing with a concrete meaning. If the word refers to concepts, relationships, or qualities that exist through human understanding rather than physical presence, you’re in abstract territory.
Second, examine the verbs and adjectives nearby. Concrete nouns often pair with action verbs related to physical manipulation-you “grasp” a handle or “open” a door. Abstract nouns connect with mental or relational verbs-you “understand” an idea or “support” a cause.
Third, consider collocations-words that frequently appear together. “Military force” and “physical force” are common pairings that activate different meanings. “Spirit of the law” versus “spirits in the cabinet” signal immediately different uses through their companions.
Finally, ask what would happen if you interpreted the word the other way. If someone says “the company’s strength lies in its workforce,” interpreting “strength” as physical muscle power creates nonsense. This elimination test helps confirm which meaning fits the context.
Why this matters for communication
Understanding abstract versus concrete meanings affects how well we communicate and comprehend. Concrete terms are clearer and more memorable than abstract ones because they link to sensory experience. When you want someone to remember your message or grasp it quickly, concrete language works better.
But abstract language serves important functions too. It lets us discuss complex ideas, express nuanced thoughts, and communicate about things that don’t have physical form. The key is recognizing when each type serves your purpose and being able to shift between them deliberately.
Misreading whether a word carries abstract or concrete meaning can lead to genuine confusion or comedic misunderstanding. When someone says “I need a hand,” they’re using “hand” abstractly to mean help, not requesting a severed limb. Context usually makes this clear, but in written communication especially, ambiguity can persist longer.
What do you think? Can you identify a word you use that has both abstract and concrete meanings? How do you determine which meaning someone intends when context doesn’t make it immediately obvious?
References
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6687846/
- https://study.com/academy/lesson/polysemy-definition-types-examples.html
- https://direct.mit.edu/coli/article/50/1/351/118497/Polysemy-Evidence-from-Linguistics-Behavioral
- https://behavioralscientist.org/the-magic-of-knowing-when-to-use-concrete-vs-abstract-language/
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00227/full
- http://guidetogrammar.org/grammar/composition/abstract.htm
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