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

The original stethoscope, invented in 1816, allows doctors to listen to the internal sounds of a patient's body.

From BBC

“Some say it’s retribution. I say, who cares? You know, don’t lecture me on timing of lawfare. Don’t lecture me on politically-motivated investigations. You guys invented this stuff.”

From Salon

It also tried to ensure they were inventing medicines rather than soap and to filter out anything predicted to be toxic to humans.

From BBC

A Glasgow school pupil has been named among Time magazine's girls of the year for inventing a device to help homeless people warm.

From BBC

A row has broken out between two German states, Bavaria and Thuringia, as to who can lay claim to inventing the Bratwurst sausage.

From BBC

Related Words

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