create

American  

[kree-eyt] / kriˈeɪt /

verb (used with object)

creates, present (3rd person singular) created, past participle, past creating present participle

1. to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes.

2. to evolve from one's own thought or imagination, as a work of art or an invention.

   Synonyms:

   invent, contrive, devise, initiate, originate

3. Theater. to perform (a role) for the first time or in the first production of a play.

4. to make by investing with new rank or by designating; constitute; appoint.

   to create a peer.

5. to be the cause or occasion of; give rise to.

   The announcement created confusion.

6. to cause to happen; bring about; arrange, as by intention or design.

   to create a revolution; to create an opportunity to ask for a raise.

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verb (used without object)

creates, present (3rd person singular) created, past participle, past creating present participle

1. to do something creative or constructive.

2. British. to make a fuss.

adjective

1. Archaic. created.

create British  

/ kriːˈeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to cause to come into existence

2. (tr) to invest with a new honour, office, or title; appoint

3. (tr) to be the cause of

   these circumstances created the revolution

4. (tr) to act (a role) in the first production of a play

5. (intr) to be engaged in creative work

6. slang (intr) to make a fuss or uproar

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• intercreate
  verb (used with object)
• creatable
  adjective
• self-creating
  adjective
• uncreatable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• creating
  present
• created
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• create
  simple
• creates
  simple
• have created
  perfect
• has created
  perfect
• am creating
  progressive
• are creating
  progressive
• is creating
  progressive
• have been creating
  perfect progressive
• has been creating
  perfect progressive

Past

• created
  simple
• had created
  perfect
• was creating
  progressive
• were creating
  progressive
• had been creating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will create
  simple
• will have created
  perfect
• will be creating
  progressive
• will have been creating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of create

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English creat (past participle), from Latin creātus, equivalent to creā- (stem of creāre “to make”) + -tus past participle suffix

Explanation

To create simply means to make or bring into existence. Bakers create cakes, ants create problems at picnics, and you probably created a few imaginary friends when you were little. Similar to conceive and spawn and the exact opposite of destroy, create is a word that often implies a little bit of imagination. In fact, it takes a lot of creativity to create something spectacular; that is, unless you're a robot, and then your creations occur automatically. Or Mother Nature, where creation just happens naturally: Birds create nests, the tides create waves, and snowstorms create days off from school.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

create creates created creating

A supply shock would create the worst kind of trade-off for Warsh and the Fed.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

The method could create new opportunities in chemistry, biology, and pharmaceutical science.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

They added logs and woody debris to the water to create deep pools and other places for baby fish to hide.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

And it will create what she called ‘sanctioned ignorance.’

From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026

Put another way: To create a billion-dollar CDO composed solely of triple-B-rated subprime mortgage bonds, you needed to lend $50 billion in cash to actual human beings.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

The project creates a new southern gateway to Redwoods National and State Parks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Such a limited founding population usually creates a severe genetic bottleneck.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026

Some analysts, however, argue that opacity in decision-making creates more uncertainty for markets.

From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026

"I think for young people who are still the biggest viewers of Love Island, it probably creates these norms for them in terms of how they would expect to be treated or how dating functions."

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

When a wind spirit disintegrates, it creates a vacuum.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

Meta said it would continue to fight “baseless” lawsuits, noting the plaintiff had created his account only six months before filing the suit.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Sipe of the University of Toronto, who collaborated with the researchers on an earlier project, had predicted that such an "electron lighthouse" could be created.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

His team created deli-style versions of some of his breakfast menu, including Earl Grey prunes and crumpets with smoked trout.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Text that aims to inform the public on general interest issues will also have to be labelled if they are created using AI without human editorial oversight.

From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026

Near one large tree, there’s a nook created by a rock and a log.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

Misfolded and defective proteins accumulate inside cells, creating stress that can damage the pancreatic cells responsible for producing insulin.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

Breeding speed also increases with warmer conditions, allowing adult jellyfish to reproduce in large numbers, creating so-called blooms.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

As Betye Saar turns 100, she’s more interested in creating new work than reflecting on her legacy as one of America’s most groundbreaking artists.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

But it still cools the atmosphere where it falls, creating strong downdrafts.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

After my father’s boss’s son mentioned his cousin August I started creating stories in my head, about each of them.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• build
• conceive
• construct
• design
• devise
• discover
• establish
• forge
• form
• found
• generate
• initiate
• invent
• make
• organize
• plan
• produce
• set up
• shape
• spawn