Invent Meaning
/ɪnˈvɛnt/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo design a new process or mechanism.
verbTo create something fictional for a particular purpose.
Sentence Examples
The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
What did Bell invent?
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
Thomas Edison worked hard to ____ the light bulb in his laboratory.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He hoped to ____ a new type of battery that would allow electric cars to travel much longer distances.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English inventen, borrowed from Old French inventer, from Latin inventus, perfect passive participle of inveniō (“come upon, meet with, find, discover”), from in (“in, on”) + veniō (“come”); see venture. Compare advent, covent, event, prevent, etc. Displaced native Old English āþenċan (literally “to think out”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Accurſt be he that firſt inuented war"
— c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act II, scene iv:
"Far off he wonders, what them makes so glad, / If Bacchus merry fruit they did inuent [...]."
— 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto IV”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Thomas Edison worked hard to ____ the light bulb in his laboratory.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He hoped to ____ a new type of battery that would allow electric cars to travel much longer distances.