devising

American  

[dih-vahy-zing] / dɪˈvaɪ zɪŋ /

noun

1. the act or process of planning, inventing, or contriving (often used attributively).

   The devising, manufacturing, and distributing of antimalaria supplies and equipment was critical to the army’s success.

   The devising of a phonemic writing system has posed problems since the earliest times.

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Etymology

Origin of devising

devis(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

AllHere was best known for devising an automated system that could deliver messages to students and families that were individualized, but fell well short of what is commonly understood to be artificial intelligence.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

The Lib Dems said the new Department for Growth would have responsibility for setting taxes, devising growth strategy, deciding on strategic national infrastructure projects and setting rules on public spending.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

By devising a tax-efficient and multifaceted distribution strategy.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 27, 2026

To execute a task that’s boring, frustrating or apparently meaningless, he suggests devising ways to make it more challenging—say, imposing an artificial deadline.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026

There has also been a frequent reverse problem, of devising letters to represent “new” sounds present in the borrowing language but absent in the lending language.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Related Words

• creative
• imaginative
• innovative
• inventive
• seminal
• unconventional
• unusual