innovate

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verb in·no·vate \ ˈi-nə-ˌvāt \

Definition of innovate

innovated; innovating

transitive verb

1 :to introduce as or as if new

2 archaic :to effect a change in

the dictates of my father were … not to be altered, innovated, or even discussed
—Sir Walter Scott

intransitive verb

:to make changes :do something in a new way

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innovator

play \ˈi-nə-ˌvā-tər\ noun

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innovatory

play \ˈi-nə-və-ˌtȯr-ē, ˈi-nə-ˌvā-tə-rē\ adjective

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Examples of innovate in a Sentence

The company plans to continue innovating and experimenting.
The company innovated a new operating system.

Recent Examples of innovate from the Web

All of these, and British English too, are constantly innovating.

— The Economist, "Fears of British English’s disappearance are overblown," 20 July 2017
The importance of exploring, innovating, and building here at home has always been a central part of our country's heritage.

— callum borchers, Washington Post, "‘The battle over health care isn’t over’: Sarah Huckabee Sanders’s defiantly optimistic briefing, annotated," 19 July 2017
MLB is innovating and Rodriguez is ready to pitch ideas.

— chris chavez, SI.com, "Alex Rodriguez shares his four-point plan to save baseball," 12 July 2017
However, at the same time, SpaceX was innovating almost continuously, refining its rocket to improve its lift capacity and ability to land the first stage booster.

— eric berger, Ars Technica, "After nine launches in 2017, it’s tough to be an honest critic of SpaceX," 26 June 2017
Perhaps that's in part why STI rates have hit an all-time high in the U.S. Recognizing this problem, some condom companies are striving to innovate.

— suzannah weiss, Glamour, "Can a High-Tech Condom Actually Make Sex Feel Better for Women?," 26 June 2017
The proclamation recognized Davis' work in merging Edward Hospital and Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare, her efforts to grow and innovate Edward Hospital and her courage and integrity for taking a personal stand against corruption.

— erin hegarty, Naperville Sun, "Retiring Edward CEO to be a new Naperville liquor commissioner," 22 June 2017
And the outmoded and complex US income taxes will be replaced with permanent and strong incentives to innovate, invest, hire and increase wages in the United States.

— doug holtz-eakin, CNN, "Trump's trillion-dollar infrastructure plan -- jobs boost or giveaway?," 13 June 2017
THINK Together partners with schools and communities to pursue educational equity and excellence for all kids by innovating, implementing and scaling academic solutions that change the odds for hundreds of thousands of California students.

— randy barth, Orange County Register, "3 ways to ensure your child is ready for kindergarten," 12 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'innovate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of innovate

Latin innovatus, past participle of innovare, from in- + novus new — more at new

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First Known Use: 1548

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innovate Synonyms

Synonyms

begin, constitute, establish, inaugurate, initiate, found, institute, introduce, launch, pioneer, plant, set up, start

Antonyms

close (down), phase out, shut (up)

Related Words

author, father, originate; conceive, concoct, contrive, cook (up), create, devise, fabricate, invent, make up, manufacture, produce, think (up); construct, put up; develop, enlarge, expand; endow, finance, fund, subsidize; arrange, organize, systematize, systemize; refound, reinitiate, reinstitute, relaunch

Near Antonyms

abolish, annihilate, annul, nullify; end, finish, halt, stop, terminate; round (off or out), wind up, wrap up

INNOVATE Defined for English Language Learners

innovate

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verb

Definition of innovate for English Language Learners

: to do something in a new way : to have new ideas about how something can be done

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See words that rhyme with innovate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for innovate Spanish Central: Translation of innovate Nglish: Translation of innovate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of innovate for Arabic speakers

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Examples of innovate in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of innovate

innovate Synonyms

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INNOVATE Defined for English Language Learners

innovate

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