invent

verb

in·vent in-ˈvent

invented; inventing; invents

Synonyms of invent next

transitive verb

: 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

: to devise by thinking : fabricate

archaic : find, discover

inventor

in-ˈven-tər

noun

inventress

in-ˈven-trəs

noun

Example Sentences

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 While the great debate over who really invented vodka (the Polish or the Russians) rages on, this 40% ABV Polish entry certainly deserves a spot in your freezer. —

Lauren Hubbard, townandcountrymag.com, 17 May 2023 The British engineer James Wimshurst did not invent the machine that bears his name. —

IEEE Spectrum, 14 May 2023 To be charitable, Wright has invented something here: A story about a child that refuses to be childlike, authored by an author who refuses to pretend that there’s order to the disorganized mind of a too-smart kid who can’t keep on task. —

Mark Athitakis, Washington Post, 9 May 2023 Klaus Lackner, a professor of engineering, has invented a mechanical tree that’s designed to capture carbon. —

Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 27 Apr. 2023 So far, liberal politicians and their P.R. teams haven’t seen fit to either recycle these barbs or invent new ones. —

Simon Lazarus, The New Republic, 21 Apr. 2023 Behind a folksy, avuncular image there has long been a pugnacious persona ever poised to lash out at adversaries real and invented. —

Patrick J. Mcdonnell, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2023 Rather, each generation invents new yokai, many of them channeling a collective unconscious of present-day anxieties. —

Hikari Hida, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2023 The characters were invented for this film, but their politics are translated faithfully from Malm’s book. —

Katie Rife, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2023 See More

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.