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Synonyms

innovate

American  
[in-uh-veyt] / ˈɪn əˌveɪt /

verb (used without object)

innovated, innovating
  1. to introduce something new; make changes in anything established.


verb (used with object)

innovated, innovating
  1. to introduce (something new) for or as if for the first time.

    to innovate a computer operating system.

  2. Archaic. to alter.

innovate British  
/ ˈɪnəˌveɪt /

verb

  1. to invent or begin to apply (methods, ideas, 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

Other Word Forms

  • innovative adjective
  • innovator noun
  • uninnovating adjective

Etymology

Origin of innovate

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin innovātus, past participle of innovāre “to renew, alter,” equivalent to in- intensive prefix + novātus, past participle of novā(re) “to renew,” verbal derivative of novus “new” + -tus past participle suffix); in- 2, new

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.

Longer term, Sykes expects that American Express will continue to innovate and “be in a position to take advantage of AI trends.”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Musk’s five-step algorithm gets Tesla and SpaceX employees to achieve stretch goals and innovate, and it’s sure to come in handy in his push to build the world’s largest AI chip factory.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

The fine arts have long struggled with a so-called graying audience, and have moved mountains to innovate in ways that keep the genres fresh in order to attract younger, excitable crowds.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026

And if a brand feels dated, uninspiring, or slow to innovate, no amount of points, freebies, or app notifications will fix the problem.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

It cannot at this time be too often repeated, line upon line, precept upon precept, until it comes into the currency of a proverb,—To innovate is not to reform.

From The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 05 (of 12) by Burke, Edmund