Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb formulate

4 senses of formulate

Sense 1
explicate, formulate, develop -- (elaborate, as of theories and hypotheses; "Could you develop the ideas in your thesis")
       => speculate, theorize, theorise, conjecture, hypothesize, hypothesise, hypothecate, suppose -- (to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds; "Scientists supposed that large dinosaurs lived in swamps")

Sense 2
invent, contrive, devise, excogitate, formulate, forge -- (come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort; "excogitate a way to measure the speed of light")
       => create by mental act, create mentally -- (create mentally and abstractly rather than with one's hands)

Sense 3
give voice, formulate, word, phrase, articulate -- (put into words or an expression; "He formulated his concerns to the board of trustees")
       => express, show, evince -- (give expression to; "She showed her disappointment")

Sense 4
formulate -- (prepare according to a formula)
       => create from raw material, create from raw stuff -- (make from scratch)