invent

[ in-vent ]

verb (used with object)

1. to originate or create as a product of one's own ingenuity, experimentation, or contrivance:

   to invent the telegraph.

   Synonyms: contrive, devise

2. to produce or create with the imagination:

   to invent a story.

   Synonyms: conceive, imagine

3. to make up or fabricate (something fictitious or false):

   to invent excuses.

   Synonyms: concoct

4. Archaic. to come upon; find.

invent

/ ɪnˈvɛnt /

verb

1. to create or devise (new ideas, machines, etc)
2. to make up (falsehoods); fabricate

Derived Forms

• inˈventible, adjective

Other Words From

• in·venti·ble in·venta·ble adjective
• outin·vent verb (used with object)
• prein·vent verb (used with object)
• self-in·vented adjective
• unin·vented adjective
• well-in·vented adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of invent¹

First recorded in 1425–75; back formation from late Middle English invented (past participle) “found, discovered,” from Latin invent(us) “encountered” (past participle of invenīre “to come upon, encounter, find,” from in- in- ² + venīre “to come”; come ) + -ed ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of invent¹

C15: from Latin invenīre to find, come upon, from in- ² + venīre to come

Synonym Study

See discover.

Example Sentences

I still do find it a tremendously useful device to invent a character and have the character sing the song.

From The Daily Beast

As a Harvard undergraduate, he used systolic blood pressure readings to invent the lie detector test.

From The Daily Beast

Did McCarthy invent the portrayal of violence in fiction, or should that laurel go to Homer?

From The Daily Beast

Reform first came in 1935 when Lenora Slaughter was hired to re-invent the pageant as its new director.

From The Daily Beast

By using an alter ego, he liberates himself, relaxes himself so he can invent freely.

From The Daily Beast

I add nothing to the “Extremes,” import nothing from abroad in regard to them, invent nothing.

From Project Gutenberg

As if there were not enough real tragedy in the world and it were necessary to invent!

From Project Gutenberg

Controve, compose or invent tunes, foule fayle, fail miserably.

From Project Gutenberg

She might have invented a pretext for staying away; she might even invent a pretext now for going.

From Project Gutenberg

If a man prefers not to speak of himself or of his doings, his enemies will soon invent some tale of their own.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bear
• come up with
• conceive
• design
• devise
• discover
• dream up
• envision
• fashion
• find
• forge
• formulate
• initiate
• originate
• produce