contrive
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
-
to form designs; plan.
-
to plot.
- Synonyms:
- connive
verb
-
(tr) to manage (something or to do something), esp by means of a trick; engineer
he contrived to make them meet
-
(tr) to think up or adapt ingeniously or elaborately
he contrived a new mast for the boat
-
to plot or scheme (treachery, evil, etc)
Synonym Usage
See prepare.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has contrivedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have contrivedperfect
-
am contrivingprogressive 1st person singular
-
have been contrivingperfect progressive
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has been contrivingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
are contrivingprogressive
-
is contrivingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
contrivingparticiple
-
contrivessingular 3rd person
Past
-
had contrivedperfect
-
had been contrivingperfect progressive
-
was contrivingprogressive singular
-
contrivedsimple
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contrivedparticiple
-
were contrivingprogressive plural
Future
Etymology
Origin of contrive
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English contreven, from Middle French contreuv-, tonic stem of controver “to devise, invent,” Old French: “to decide, agree upon,” from Late Latin contropāre “to compare,” equivalent to con- con- + (unattested) tropāre (becoming French trouver “to find”; see trover); development of vowel unclear
Explanation
When you contrive, you make a plan or a plot. It may take you longer to contrive your way out of doing your homework than would to actually do it. Even though contrive often has a false or cunning feel to it, it is not always a bad thing. Mental effort is always required though, as contrive is often used in connection with inventing schemes and plans to make something happen. Contraption, a complicated mysterious device that does something, is related to contrive. Have you ever seen a Rube Goldberg contraption? When you contrive to do something, your plan may end up being that complicated.
Vocabulary lists containing contrive
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
So this week: Contrive an elaborate scenario that ends in a novel groaner pun on a familiar expression, title, etc.
From Washington Post
Contrive that he shall come upon the bread, and reward him by permitting him to eat it.
From The Dog by Dinks
Shall then the Greeks, unpunish'd and conceal'd, Contrive, perhaps, the ruin of our empire; League with our chiefs, and propagate sedition?
From Dr. Johnson's Works: Life, Poems, and Tales, Volume 1 The Works of Samuel Johnson, Ll.D., in Nine Volumes by Johnson, Samuel
My sentence is for open war: of wiles, More inexpert, I boast not: there let those Contrive who need, or when they need, not now.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 104, March 18, 1893 by Burnand, F. C. (Francis Cowley), Sir
Of wiles, More unexpert, I boast not: them let those Contrive who need, or when they need; not now.
From Paradise Lost by Milton, John
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
