invent

play

verb in·vent \in-ˈvent\

Definition of invent

transitive verb
1 archaic : find, discover
2 : to devise by thinking : fabricate
3 : 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

inventor

play \in-ˈven-tər\ noun

inventress

play \in-ˈven-trəs\ noun

See invent defined for English-language learners

See invent defined for kids

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 of invent from the Web

Salisbury steak was originally invented by an American physician, Dr. J. H. Salisbury, who died in 1905 and was an early proponent of a low-carbohydrate diet for weight loss.

— philip potempa, chicagotribune.com, "Wild onions a flavorful old-fashioned farm staple", 2 June 2017
Technology experts can invent anything and put the blame on anyone.

— associated press, Washington Post, "The Latest: Special counsel’s Trump probe adds Manafort case", 2 June 2017
As Eric Limer explains in Popular Mechanics: [LZW] let computers invent a whole new phrase like ‘

— lorraine boissoneault, Smithsonian, "A Brief History of the GIF, From Early Internet Innovation to Ubiquitous Relic", 2 June 2017
Gibson is known for inventing a method of accurately assembling multiple DNA fragments known as Gibson Assembly.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Prototype converts digital data into drugs and biological materials", 30 May 2017
The same went for his 2015 comedy Mortdecai, which tried to invent a new persona for Depp to subvert (this time, the upper-class British toff).

— david sims, The Atlantic, "Johnny Depp Can't Escape His Own Superstardom", 29 May 2017
Listen to commencement speakers at college graduations this season and you’ll be inspired to scale mountains, discover cures, end hunger, invent a pollution-free energy source, and write The Great American Novel.

— ana veciana-suarez, miamiherald, "They’ve got their college degree. Did anyone mention their crushing student loan debt?", 29 May 2017
China, which for years watched enviously as the West invented the software and the chips powering today’s digital age, has become a major player in artificial intelligence, what some think may be the most important technology of the future.

— paul mozur and john markoff, New York Times, "Is China Outsmarting America in A.I.?", 27 May 2017
William Moulton Marston, who created Wonder Woman, also invented the lie detector test.

— eliza thompson, Cosmopolitan, "15 Fascinating Wonder Woman Facts", 25 May 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of invent

Middle English, from Latin inventus, past participle of invenire to come upon, find, from in- + venire to come — more at come

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First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

INVENT Defined for English Language Learners

invent

play

verb

Definition of invent for English Language Learners

: to create or produce (something useful) for the first time
: to create or make up (something, such as a story) in order to trick people

INVENT Defined for Kids

invent

play

verb in·vent \in-ˈvent\

Definition of invent for Students

invented

;

inventing

1 : to create or produce for the first time Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.
2 : to think up : make up She invented an excuse for being late.

inventor

\-ˈvent-ər\ noun

Word Root of invent

The Latin word venīre, meaning “to come,” and its form ventus give us the roots ven and vent. Words from the Latin venīre have something to do with coming. To invent is to come up with a new idea or device that no one has thought of before. To convene is to come together for a purpose. An event is an occasion when many people come together.