invent

[ in-vent ]
/ ɪnˈvɛnt /
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verb (used with object)

to originate or create as a product of one's own ingenuity, experimentation, or contrivance: to invent the telegraph.
to produce or create with the imagination: to invent a story.
to make up or fabricate (something fictitious or false): to invent excuses.
Archaic. to come upon; find.

Origin of invent

1425–75; late Middle English invented (past participle) found, discovered (see -ed2) < Latin inventus, past participle of invenīre to encounter, come upon, find, equivalent to in- in-2 + ven(īre) to come + -tus past participle suffix

SYNONYMS FOR invent

1 devise, contrive. See discover.
2 imagine, conceive.
3 concoct.
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OTHER WORDS FROM invent

Words nearby invent

invected, invective, inveigh, inveigle, invenit, invent, invent the wheel, invention, inventive, inventor, inventory

Words related to invent

fashion, envision, formulate, devise, conceive, originate, discover, bear, initiate, produce, design, forge, find, concoct, fake, improvise, execute, compose, form, author

Example sentences from the Web for invent

British Dictionary definitions for invent

invent
/ (ɪnˈvɛnt) /

verb

to create or devise (new ideas, machines, etc)
to make up (falsehoods); fabricate

Derived forms of invent

inventible or inventable, adjective

Word Origin for invent

C15: from Latin invenīre to find, come upon, from in- ² + venīre to come