patent
noun
the exclusive right granted by a government to an inventor to manufacture, use, or sell an invention for a certain number of years.
had patented
-
past perfectof patent.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
By the end of the 19th century, more than 400 U.S. inventors had patented similarly flexible-chair designs to accommodate what historian Gretchen Buggeln calls “the need to fidget.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 15, 2025
Poulain says he was unaware Buettner had patented the term, and although he collaborated with the company, he says he was taken aback by the large fees Buettner was asking to implement its programs.
From Science Magazine ● Nov. 20, 2024
A winner of a Blue Peter competition 50 years ago wishes he had patented his idea because he said he would be "a lot richer" than he is now.
From BBC ● May 3, 2024
Similarly, a decade earlier, Unocal persuaded a California environmental agency to adopt standards for cleaner-burning gasoline, and then announced it had patented the standard, demanding royalty payments that raised prices at pumps across the nation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2022
Another woman said she still believed Gey had patented the cells, then yelled, “I hope in the future this could be rectified!”
From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot
