Invent
//ɪnˈvɛnt// verb
verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To design a new process or mechanism.
"After weeks of hard work, I invented a new way to alphabetize matchbooks."
- 2 come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort wordnet
- 3 To create something fictional for a particular purpose.
"I knew I had to invent an excuse, and quickly."
- 4 concoct something artificial or untrue wordnet
- 5 To come upon; to find; to discover. obsolete
"Far off he wonders, what them makes so glad, / If Bacchus merry fruit they did inuent [...]."
Example
More examples"The best way to predict the future is to invent it."
Etymology
From Middle English inventen, borrowed from Old French inventer, from Latin inventus, perfect passive participle of inveniō (“come upon, meet with, find, discover”), from in (“in, on”) + veniō (“come”); see venture. Compare advent, covent, event, prevent, etc. Displaced native Old English āþenċan (literally “to think out”).
Related phrases
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.