# invented

/ˌɪnˈvɛntəd/ (US) · /ɪnvˈɛntɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/invented
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. created something new

verb · CEFR A2

to have designed or created a new tool, machine, or system for the first time.

For teachers: to have originated or devised a new product, process, or device that did not previously exist.

- Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876.
- The engineer successfully patented the mechanism he had invented, ensuring his firm held exclusive rights to the revolutionary cooling technology.

### 2. made up a story

verb · CEFR B1

to have made up a story, excuse, or explanation that is not true.

For teachers: to have fabricated a narrative or excuse, typically to deceive or entertain.

- He invented a clever excuse for being late to the meeting.
- The witness admitted she had invented the entire sequence of events to protect her colleague from potential legal consequences.

### 3. fictional or false

adjective · CEFR B2

not real; made up by someone's imagination.

For teachers: fictional or fabricated; existing only as a result of creative or deceptive imagination.

- The book is set in an invented world where magic is common.
- The journalist was criticised for including invented quotes in his profile of the reclusive billionaire.

## Examples

- She invented a new way to recycle plastic.
- The engineer invented a more efficient engine that uses half the fuel of older models.
- Historians often debate whether the printing press was truly invented by a single person or if it was the inevitable result of several converging technologies.

---

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.