# innovate

/ˈɪnəˌveɪt/ (US) · /ˈɪnəvˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/innovate
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to introduce new ideas

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to do something in a new way or create new things.

For teachers: to introduce new methods, ideas, or products. Often used intransitively to describe a general culture of creativity.

- The company needs to innovate if it wants to stay ahead of its competitors.
- To remain competitive in the global market, the firm must constantly innovate rather than simply refining existing product lines.

Usage: Commonly used intransitively in business contexts to describe a general process of improvement.

### 2. to introduce something specific

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

to bring in a specific new idea or method for the first time.

For teachers: to introduce a specific novelty or change into an established environment. Transitive use taking the new method or idea as a direct object.

- The school decided to innovate a new teaching method for science classes.
- The laboratory sought to innovate a more efficient carbon-capture process that could be scaled for industrial use.

Usage: Takes a direct object representing the new thing being introduced.

## Examples

- The company must innovate to stay ahead of its competitors.
- To survive in the fast-paced tech industry, engineers must constantly innovate and find more efficient ways to process data.
- While many firms are content to refine existing models, truly successful organizations innovate by challenging the fundamental assumptions of their industry and creating entirely new markets.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.