# invent

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɪnˈvɛnt/ · frequency rank #13,544

## Definitions
1. To design a new process or mechanism.
2. To create something fictional for a particular purpose.
3. To come upon; to find; to discover.

## Etymology
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.
Displaced native Old English āþenċan (literally “to think out”).

## Easily confused with
- **invest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/invent-vs-invest)
- **invert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/invent-vs-invert)
- **invented** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/invent-vs-invented)
- **inventor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/invent-vs-inventor)
- **inlet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inlet-vs-invent)
- **inept** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inept-vs-invent)
- **inert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inert-vs-invent)
- **inset** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inset-vs-invent)
- **intent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intent-vs-invent)
- **intend** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intend-vs-invent)
- **insert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/insert-vs-invent)
- **infant** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infant-vs-invent)
- **insect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/insect-vs-invent)
- **inject** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inject-vs-invent)
- **incest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/incest-vs-invent)
- **infect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-invent)
- **ingest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ingest-vs-invent)

## Common misspellings (9)
`inevnt`, `innvent`, `invennt`, `inventt`, `invetn`, `invnet`, `invvent`, `ivnent`, `nivent`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/invent