Meaning

3 senses
  1. To design a new process or mechanism.

    After weeks of hard work, I invented a new way to alphabetize matchbooks.

    erfinden

    изобрета́тьizobretátʹ, изобрести́izobrestí, создава́тьsozdavátʹ

    винахо́дитиvynaxódyty, ви́найтиvýnajty

  2. To create something fictional for a particular purpose.

    I knew I had to invent an excuse, and quickly.

    We need a name to put in this form, so let's just invent one.

    ausdenken, erfinden

    выду́мыватьvydúmyvatʹ, вы́думатьvýdumatʹ, сочиня́тьsočinjátʹ

  3. (obsolete)To come upon; to find; to discover.

More definitions
  • come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
  • concoct something artificial or untrue

Examples

342 sentences
  1. Who was this machine invented by?

    Хто винайшов цю машину?

    ruКем была изобретена эта машина?

    deWer hat diese Maschine erfunden?

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · A2Open on TatoebaReport a problem
  2. Do you know who invented gunpowder?

    Ти знаєш, хто винайшов порох?

    ruВы знаете, кто изобрёл порох?

    deWeißt du, wer das Schießpulver erfunden hat?

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · C1Open on TatoebaReport a problem
  3. Do you know who invented the microscope?

    Ти знаєш, хто винайшов мікроскоп?

    ruВы знаете, кто изобрёл микроскоп?

    deWissen Sie, wer das Mikroskop erfunden hat?

    CC BY · Tatoeba · CK · B2Open on TatoebaReport a problem
  4. He invented an excuse for being late.

    Він придумав виправдання своєму запізненню.

    ruОн придумал отговорку, почему опоздал.

    deEr erfand eine Ausrede für sein Zuspätkommen.

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  5. I like to invent useful things.

    Мені подобається винаходити корисні речі.

    ruМне нравится изобретать полезные вещи.

    deIch erfinde gerne Nützliches.

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Translations

9 languages
Українська
By meaning 1
design a new process or mechanism:
Русский
By meaning 2
design a new process or mechanism:
create something fictional:
Deutsch
By meaning 2
design a new process or mechanism:
create something fictional:

Origin

From Middle English inventen, borrowed from Old French inventer, from Latin inventus, perf

From Middle English inventen, borrowed from Old French inventer, from Latin inventus, perfect passive participle of inveniō (“come upon, meet with, find, discover”), from in (“in, on”) + veniō (“come”); see venture. Compare advent, covent, event, prevent, etc.

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Forms

invents, inventing, invented, invented
Base forminvent · to invent
3rd person singularinvents
Present participleinventing
Past simpleinvented
Past participleinvented

regular · Lesson

Present simpleLesson

I, you, we, theyinvent
he, she, itinvents

Past simpleLesson

all personsinvented

Present perfectLesson

I, you, we, theyhave invented
he, she, ithas invented

Future simple (will)Lesson

all personswill invent

Synonyms

12 synonyms
Close in meaning

Word family

14 related words

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
invent — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto