contrive

American

[kuhn-trahyv] / kənˈtraɪv /

verb (used with object)

contrived, contriving

to plan with ingenuity; devise; invent.

The author contrived a clever plot.

Synonyms:

concoct, design
to bring about or effect by a plan, scheme, or the like; manage.

He contrived to gain their votes.
to plot (evil, treachery, etc.).

Synonyms:

scheme, conspire

verb (used without object)

contrived, contriving

to form designs; plan.
to plot.

Synonyms:

connive

contrive British

/ kənˈtraɪv /

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)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See prepare.

Other Word Forms

contrivable adjective
contriver noun
precontrive verb
uncontriving adjective

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”; trover ); development of vowel unclear

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.

This man is Will, who, Phil realizes, has “contrived” the whole sorry scene.

From The Wall Street Journal

However, with 25 minutes to go and the match seemingly there for the taking, England contrived to hand the initiative back to Italy.

From BBC

Cooling their heels in a Venetian jail in 1755, Giacomo Casanova and the prisoner in the cell above him contrived one of the more imaginative escapes in the annals of criminology.

From The Wall Street Journal

They can dominate chunks of a game with their excellence and then contrive to lose that same game with their mental wobbles.

From BBC

Guardiola must still be furious and frustrated at how City were so much in command at half-time with a two-goal advantage, yet somehow contrived to cast aside two points and almost lose all three.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023