Meaning
Invent means to create or design something that has never existed before, or to think up a new idea, method, or story. It can also mean to make up something that is not true.
Grammar and Usage
- Part of speech: Verb
- Transitive: Always used with an object.
Common structures:
- invent + noun (He invented the telephone.)
- invent + story/excuse/lie (She invented an excuse for being late.)
- be invented by + someone (The device was invented by Edison.)
Common Phrases
- invent a story
- invent an excuse
- invent a new method
- necessity is the mother of invention (a proverb meaning problems encourage creativity)
Collocations
- Verb + Invent: try to invent, manage to invent, be the first to invent
- Noun + Invent: invent a machine, invent a device, invent a story, invent a character
- Adjective + Invent: newly invented, recently invented, cleverly invented
Examples
- Thomas Edison invented the electric light bulb.
- The child invented a game using only sticks and stones.
- She invented an excuse to leave the party early.
- Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.
- Don’t invent lies to cover your mistakes.
- They invented a clever solution to reduce waste.
- He invented a story about why he couldn’t attend school.
- Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 15th century.
Synonyms or Related
- Create
- Design
- Develop
- Devise
- Fabricate (when meaning "make up a story")
Antonym
- Destroy
- Copy
- Imitate