invented; inventing; invents
1
: to produce (something, such as a useful device or process) for the first time through the use of the imagination or of ingenious thinking and experiment
2
: to devise by thinking : fabricate
Synonyms
Examples of invent in a Sentence
Thomas Edison invented the phonograph.
She is credited with inventing a procedure that has helped to save thousands of lives.
She invented a clever excuse.
We found out that he had invented the stories he told us about his military service.
Recent Examples on the Web
Moon Pies are cookie-like sweets that the Chattanooga Bakery Inc. gets credit for inventing.
—
Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
Priem got his start in electrical engineering at IBM and Sun Microsystems, where the programming language Java was invented.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
No one knows for certain who invented the burrito, according to hightidetacobar.com.
—Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Apr. 2024
In another parallel to the present, the Egyptians invented not only the basis of governance but also its pitfalls, pioneering the concepts of tax fraud, evasion and corruption.
—Kate McMahon, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
First invented in 1965 on Washington’s Bainbridge Island, pickleball has morphed from a casual backyard sport to a global sensation that’s taking the world by storm—and in the mid-2020s, this beloved activity is gearing up to become more popular than ever.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Ohtani said Mizuhara had invented every other rendition of events.
—Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Why are role-playing games such a compelling way to explore hypothetical worlds?
People who are into speculative fiction have always invented worlds.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
The Gowanus Interregnum is a term, invented by Vogel, to describe the eight years, from 2016 to 2024, when, in his view, the forces of old Gowanus and new Gowanus struggled against each other to define the neighborhood’s future.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2024
Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 6 Apr. 2024
Priem got his start in electrical engineering at IBM and Sun Microsystems, where the programming language Java was invented.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
No one knows for certain who invented the burrito, according to hightidetacobar.com.
—Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Apr. 2024
In another parallel to the present, the Egyptians invented not only the basis of governance but also its pitfalls, pioneering the concepts of tax fraud, evasion and corruption.
—Kate McMahon, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
First invented in 1965 on Washington’s Bainbridge Island, pickleball has morphed from a casual backyard sport to a global sensation that’s taking the world by storm—and in the mid-2020s, this beloved activity is gearing up to become more popular than ever.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Ohtani said Mizuhara had invented every other rendition of events.
—Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Why are role-playing games such a compelling way to explore hypothetical worlds?
People who are into speculative fiction have always invented worlds.
—Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 27 Mar. 2024
The Gowanus Interregnum is a term, invented by Vogel, to describe the eight years, from 2016 to 2024, when, in his view, the forces of old Gowanus and new Gowanus struggled against each other to define the neighborhood’s future.
—Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'invent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
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Cite this Entry
“Invent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/invent. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
Legal Definition
invent
transitive verb
in·vent
: to create or produce for the first time
inventor
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on invent
Nglish: Translation of invent for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of invent for Arabic Speakers
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