create

1 of 2

verb

cre·​ate krē-ˈāt 

ˈkrē-ˌāt

created; creating

transitive verb

1

: to bring into existence

… God created the heaven and the earth.

—Genesis 1:1 (King James Version)

2

a

: to invest with a new form, office, or rank

She was created a lieutenant.

b

: to produce or bring about by a course of action or behavior

Her arrival created a terrible fuss.

create new jobs

3

: cause, occasion

Famine creates high food prices.

4

a

: to produce through imaginative skill

create a painting

b

: design

creates dresses

intransitive verb

1

: to make or bring into existence something new

an artist who is good at imitating but not at creating

2

: to set up a scoring opportunity in basketball

create off the dribble

create

2 of 2

adjective

archaic

: created

Synonyms of create

Verb

• generate
• bring
• cause
• produce
• do
• prompt

Examples of create in a Sentence

Verb

Several new government programs were created while she was governor.

The President has announced a plan to create new jobs.

the scientists who created the world's first atomic bomb

The machine creates a lot of noise.

It can be hard to create a balance between work and family.

She creates a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for her guests.

The advertisements are intended to create demand for the product.

I've been creating music for over 30 years.

She enjoys creating new dishes by combining unusual ingredients.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

At this gleefully un-sleek restaurant styled as a Korean blue-collar cabby spot, the menu has almost no choices and not all the banchan are created equal. —Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026

In Spain, wildfires could create a smoky atmosphere, reducing clarity (as happened in summer 2025). —Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 May 2026

In addition to the beautiful colors, the blooms contain an essential oil compound, geraniol, which creates a pleasant fragrance for us, but not the pests. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 May 2026

Three decades later, Landon's production company and his wife, Cindy Landon, are working together to create a Highway to Heaven revival for Fox for the 2027-2028 season, per Deadline. —Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English createn, borrowed from Latin creātus, past participle of creāre "to bring into being, beget, give birth to, cause to grow," causative derivative from the base of crēscere "to come into existence, increase in size or numbers, grow" — more at crescent entry 1

Adjective

Middle English creat, borrowed from Latin creātus, past participle of creāre "to bring into being, beget, give birth to, cause to grow" — more at create entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing create

• cause/create/leave a vacuum
• co-create
• re-create

Rhymes for create

• ate
• bait
• bate
• cate
• crate
• date
• eight
• fait
• fate
• fete
• frate
• freight

Kids Definition

create

verb

cre·​ate

krē-ˈāt, 

ˈkrē-ˌāt

created; creating

: to bring into existence : make, produce