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

2 senses of invent

Sense 1
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 2
fabricate, manufacture, cook up, make up, invent -- (make up something artificial or untrue)
       => think up, think of, dream up, hatch, concoct -- (devise or invent; "He thought up a plan to get rich quickly"; "no-one had ever thought of such a clever piece of software")