invented; inventing; invents
1
: to produce (something, such as a useful device or process) for the first time through the use of the imagination or of ingenious thinking and experiment
2
: to devise by thinking : fabricate
in·ven·tor
variants
or less commonly inventer
ə̇nˈventə(r)
plural -s
1
obsolete
: one that finds or finds out : discoverer
first inventor of the nervous system—
John Freind
John Freind2
: one that conceives by creative imagination
inventor of a new ballet
one must be an inventor to read well—S. P. Sherman
S. P. Shermanthe next step is to discover what makes a man an inventor rather than a passive culture carrier—Ralph Linton
Ralph Linton3
: one that creates a new device or process : originator
Eli Whitney was the inventor of the cotton gin
Examples of invent in a Sentence
Verb
Thomas Edison invented the phonograph.
She is credited with inventing a procedure that has helped to save thousands of lives.
She invented a clever excuse.
We found out that he had invented the stories he told us about his military service.
Recent Examples on the Web
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
6 July 2026
The physics of the upgrade The centerpiece of the overhaul is the L1, L-Acoustics’ new flagship line array system — the first major architectural rethinking of the format since the company invented the modern line source array in 1993.
—
Dave Brooks,
Los Angeles Times,
6 July 2026
More than 170 years after it was invented, the 501 Original is still here.
—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
6 July 2026
The sport, which was invented in the 1960s on Bainbridge Island, Washington, took its time getting to the Bay Area, but the craze has definitely caught on.
—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
5 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for invent
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Verb
Plastic flamingos—invented in Massachusetts, of all places—were planted in yards to amuse homeowners.
—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
6 July 2026
The physics of the upgrade The centerpiece of the overhaul is the L1, L-Acoustics’ new flagship line array system — the first major architectural rethinking of the format since the company invented the modern line source array in 1993.
—
Dave Brooks,
Los Angeles Times,
6 July 2026
More than 170 years after it was invented, the 501 Original is still here.
—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
6 July 2026
The sport, which was invented in the 1960s on Bainbridge Island, Washington, took its time getting to the Bay Area, but the craze has definitely caught on.
—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
5 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for invent
Cite this Entry
“Invent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/invent. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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