invent
/ɪnˈvɛnt
/verb [with object]
1Create or design (something that has not existed before); be the originator of: he invented an improved form of the steam engine...
- Above all, I admire the fact that when an exact word doesn't exist, he calmly invents one.
- He was born Jay Gatz but repudiated his origins and background while inventing a grand new persona.
- Do we really need to create artificial scarcity by inventing awards that only some kids can receive?
Synonyms
originate, create, innovate, design, devise, contrive, formulate, develop;
conceive, think up, come up with, hit on, mastermind, pioneer;
discover, find;
coin, mint
informal dream up
1.1Make up (an idea, name, story, etc.), especially so as to deceive someone: I did not have to invent any tales about my past...
- When coming across names one has never heard of, one invents stories about Markson's following behind the epitaphic perspective.
- Pari, in turn, would invent long stories and narrate them to her friend.
- Last year, police said So confessed during interrogation to inventing her story because she wanted to write a novel.
Synonyms
make up, fabricate, concoct, hatch, dream up, trump up, manufacture
informal cook up
Origin
Late 15th century (in the sense 'find out, discover'): from Latin invent- 'contrived, discovered', from the verb invenire, from in- 'into' + venire 'come'.