invent

verb

in·​vent in-ˈvent 

invented; inventing; invents

transitive verb

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

inventor

in-ˈven-tər 

noun

inventress

in-ˈven-trəs 

noun

Synonyms of invent

• devise
• concoct
• construct

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

Consider, for instance, the Pomodoro technique, invented by a university student in the 1980s who was trying to come up with a strategy to work more efficiently. —Laura E. Knouse, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026

Additionally, Epicurious did not invent this recipe. —Jenny Rosenstrach, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Apr. 2026

Readers of The Meaning of Your Life could be forgiven for thinking that despair was invented in 2007, the year the first iPhone was released. —Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026

Gemini 3 Pro invented elaborate technical justifications for marking incorrect answers as correct, reasoning that doing so would bring the peer’s score above the shutdown threshold. —Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing invent

• co-invent

Rhymes for invent

• accent
• advent
• ascent
• assent
• augment
• cement
• consent
• dement
• descent
• detent
• dissent
• event

Kids Definition

invent

verb

in·​vent in-ˈvent 

1

: to think up : make up

invent an excuse

2

: to create or produce for the first time

invented a new game

inventor

-ˈvent-ər 

noun

Legal Definition

invent

transitive verb

in·​vent

: to create or produce for the first time

inventor noun