invent

[in-vent] / ɪnˈvɛnt /

VERB

create, think up

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bear come up with conceive design devise discover dream up envision fashion find forge formulate initiate originate produce

STRONG

ad-lib author coin compose contrive execute fake form frame hatch imagine improve improvise inaugurate jam make mint plan project wing

WEAK

bring into being come upon cook up knock off make up off-the-cuff toss off turn out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

destroy end finish lose miss pass by result terminate

STRONG

fail forget hurt ignore neglect raze ruin stop

WEAK

steal tell the truth

VERB

fabricate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

concoct forge

STRONG

equivocate fake falsify feign fib lie misrepresent misstate pretend prevaricate simulate vamp

WEAK

conjure up create out of thin air make believe make up tell a white lie tell untruth think up trump up

Antonyms

STRONG

be honest tell the truth

WEAK

steal

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

They’re the ones that invent this stuff in the first place.

From Slate • Mar. 4, 2026

“We aren’t doing anything crazy. We didn’t invent service charges.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

Rebecca Black’s “Friday” didn’t invent being nasty online.

From Salon • Feb. 16, 2026

“Would you use a hammer or invent a new hammer?” he asked.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

So, too, science itself is an invention, but Newton did not invent gravity, he discovered its law.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton