What does contrive mean?
Contrive means To invent by an exercise of ingeniosity; to devise.
Contrive
/kənˈtɹaɪv/ · verb
Meaning
To invent by an exercise of ingeniosity; to devise.
Definitions by Sense
- To invent by an exercise of ingeniosity; to devise
- To invent, to make devices; to form designs especially by improvisation.
- To project, cast, or set forth, as in a projection of light.
- (obsolete, transitive) To spend (time, or a period).
Example Sentences
[…]I cannot bear the idea of two young women traveling post by themselves. It is highly improper. You must contrive to send somebody.
Neither do thou imagine that I shall contrive aught against his life.
With a little manœuvring they contrived to meet on the doorstep which was […] in a boiling stream of passers-by, hurrying business people speeding past in a flurry of fumes and dust in the bright haze.
Synonyms for contrive
Antonyms for contrive
Related Words
Word Forms
- contrives
- contriving
- contrived
Usage Notes
Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.
Practice and Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a synonym for contrive?
Common synonyms include becast, cast about, plan, scheme.
What is the opposite of contrive?
The opposite depends on the specific sense.
How do you use contrive in a sentence?
[…]I cannot bear the idea of two young women traveling post by themselves. It is highly improper. You must contrive to send somebody.
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.