innovate

[ in-uh-veyt ]

/ ˈɪn əˌveɪt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR innovate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), in·no·vat·ed, in·no·vat·ing.

to introduce something new; make changes in anything established.

verb (used with object), in·no·vat·ed, in·no·vat·ing.

to introduce (something new) for or as if for the first time: to innovate a computer operating system.

Archaic. to alter.

Nearby words

innominate artery, innominate bone, innominate cartilage, innominate vein, innomine, innovate, innovation, innovative, innoxious, inns of court, innsbruck

Origin of innovate

1540–50; < Latin innovātus past participle of innovāre to renew, alter, equivalent to in- in-² + novātus (novā(re) to renew, verbal derivative of novus new + -tus past participle suffix)

Related forms

in·no·va·tor, nounin·no·va·to·ry, adjectiveun·in·no·vat·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for innovate

So Wilson had to innovate a new business plan—a $950 monthly lease, with 2,000 free copies.
Pioneers in Printing|The Daily Beast|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The key to his success is working in a practice that gives him time to innovate.
Can Fitbit Data Save Lives?|Daniela Drake|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It does so because competition for the kind of high-skill workers it needs to innovate is high.
Why Obama’s Plan for Working Moms Just Won’t Work|Cathy Reisenwitz|July 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Who gets to innovate in a world where you need to pay AT&T to compete?
AT&T’s New “Sponsored Data” Scheme is a Tremendous Loss for All of Us|Michael Weinberg|January 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

These are cities with a thriving housing market and the intellectual capital to innovate and improve.
America’s Thriving Cities, From Seattle to Boston|Brandy Zadrozny|August 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
In him assuredly there was no attempt at inventiveness; he has always repudiated the idea that the poet should seek to innovate.
Personality in Literature|Rolfe Arnold Scott-James
Sire, to regulate industry in this way is not to innovate, but to persevere.
Economic Sophisms|Frederic Bastiat
The musters on both sides should be disbanded,—neither party should “innovate” upon the status in quo.
History of England from the fall of Wolsey to the death of Elizabeth. Vol. III|James Anthony Froude
Let him originate, let him innovate, let him blaze his path with the pioneers—let him think.
The Library and Society|Various
Sire, to make such regulations is not to innovate, but to preserve.
Sophisms of the Protectionists|Frederic Bastiat

British Dictionary definitions for innovate

innovate

/ (ˈɪnəˌveɪt) /

verb

to invent or begin to apply (methods, ideas, etc)

Derived Forms

innovative or innovatory, adjectiveinnovator, noun

Word Origin for innovate

C16: from Latin innovāre to renew, from in- ² + novāre to make new, from novus new

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