invent

verb

in·vent | \ in-ˈvent

invented; inventing; invents

Definition of invent

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

3 archaic : find, discover

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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 Adobe is aware of the need to both improve existing products and invent new ones. — Peter Cohan, Forbes, "After 60% Stock Pop, How Adobe Will Sustain Its 20% Growth," 8 Apr. 2021 Forget those who hold back consumption to fund or invent stuff that brings the masses out of poverty. — Andy Kessler, WSJ, "Inequality by Way of Government," 28 Mar. 2021 The goal there is to not try to change or re-invent the wheel. — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, "Drummer Sonny Emory on His Years With Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, and Earth, Wind, and Fire," 24 Mar. 2021 Those best-positioned to outperform in the long-run will have the capacity to innovate and re-invent around new business models that combine both human and technological capabilities. — Tom Deegan, Fortune, "Inside the Future 50: The 3 key traits of companies that outperform, regardless of industry," 23 Feb. 2021 The plan was to first detect the particles and then invent more complex devices that could control them and function as qubits. — Tom Simonite, Wired, "Microsoft’s Big Win in Quantum Computing Was an ‘Error’ After All," 12 Feb. 2021 Even fewer imagined that a girl could grow up to govern Germany, run the IMF or invent a vaccine. — The Economist, "Getting girlhood right Covid-19 threatens girls’ gigantic global gains," 16 Dec. 2020 What Altman has done better than most college coaches is simply re-invent his program. — John Canzano, oregonlive, "Canzano: Oregon Ducks are a program in need of a big transformation," 29 Mar. 2021 And the Manhattan Project employed 1940s-era technology to invent and use the first atomic weapons in only three years, beginning from a purely theoretical understanding. — William R. Graham, National Review, "Iran Probably Already Has the Bomb. Here’s What to Do about It," 19 Mar. 2021

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.