invent

[in-vent]

verb (used with object)

1. to originate or create as a product of one's own ingenuity, experimentation, or contrivance.

   to invent the telegraph.

   Synonyms: contrive, devise

2. to produce or create with the imagination.

   to invent a story.

   Synonyms: conceive, imagine

3. to make up or fabricate (something fictitious or false).

   to invent excuses.

   Synonyms: concoct

4. Archaic.,  to come upon; find.

invent

/ ɪnˈvɛnt /

verb

1. to create or devise (new ideas, machines, etc)

2. to make up (falsehoods); fabricate

Other Word Forms

• inventible adjective
• inventable adjective
• outinvent verb (used with object)
• preinvent verb (used with object)
• self-invented adjective
• uninvented adjective
• well-invented adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of invent¹

First recorded in 1425–75; back formation from late Middle English invented (past participle) “found, discovered,” from Latin invent(us) “encountered” (past participle of invenīre “to come upon, encounter, find,” from in- in- ² + venīre “to come”; come ) + -ed ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of invent¹

C15: from Latin invenīre to find, come upon, from _in- ² + venīre to come

Synonym Study

See discover.

Example Sentences

Other characters regard Chad as strange without seeing him as suspicious and accept the increasingly ridiculous stories Russ invents to keep selling the lie.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But Kennedy did not invent this schtick of trying to rebrand misogyny as feminism through trolling and feigning “concern” for women and children’s safety.

Read more on Salon

Meanwhile, Lockjaw’s Perfidia fixation chafes against his desire to join a clique of snooty white nationalists invented for the film called the Christmas Adventurers Club.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The Cabinet Office says one case it found involved a woman who invented a company and then sent the loan money to Poland.

Read more on BBC

Amazon UK manager John Boumphrey said the firm would "continue to invent and invest" in the UK.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• bear 
• come up with 
• conceive 
• design 
• devise 
• discover 
• dream up 
• envision 
• fashion 
• find 
• forge 
• formulate 
• initiate 
• originate 
• produce