# invent

/ˌɪnˈvɛnt/ (US) · /ɪnvˈɛnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/invent
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to create a new thing

verb · CEFR A2

to design or create something that did not exist before, such as a machine or a tool.

For teachers: to devise or produce a new device, method, or process through original thought or experimentation.

- Alexander Graham Bell is famous because he helped invent the telephone.
- Engineers are working to invent a more efficient battery that can store solar energy for several days without losing power.

Usage: This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.

### 2. to make up a story

verb · CEFR B1

to make up a story, an excuse, or a lie.

For teachers: to fabricate or concoct a story, excuse, or piece of information, often to deceive or entertain.

- He had to invent a good excuse for being late to the meeting.
- The novelist spent months trying to invent a believable world where magic and technology coexisted peacefully.

## Examples

- Thomas Edison did not invent the light bulb alone.
- Engineers are working hard to invent a battery that lasts for an entire week without charging.
- While many people believe he was the first to invent the steam engine, he actually refined an existing design to make it commercially viable.

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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.