create

1 of 2

verb

cre·​ate krē-ˈāt How to pronounce create (audio)
ˈkrē-ˌāt
created; creating

transitive verb

1
: to bring into existence
… God created the heaven and the earth.Genesis 1:1 (King James Version)
2
a
: to invest with a new form, office, or rank
She was created a lieutenant.
b
: to produce or bring about by a course of action or behavior
Her arrival created a terrible fuss.
create new jobs
3
: cause, occasion
Famine creates high food prices.
4
a
: to produce through imaginative skill
create a painting
b
: design
creates dresses

intransitive verb

1
: to make or bring into existence something new
an artist who is good at imitating but not at creating
2
: to set up a scoring opportunity in basketball
create off the dribble

create

2 of 2

adjective

archaic

Examples of create in a Sentence

Verb Several new government programs were created while she was governor. The President has announced a plan to create new jobs. the scientists who created the world's first atomic bomb The machine creates a lot of noise. It can be hard to create a balance between work and family. She creates a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for her guests. The advertisements are intended to create demand for the product. I've been creating music for over 30 years. She enjoys creating new dishes by combining unusual ingredients.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The university is already using the syrup in its food service program to create new flavors of salad dressing and barbecue sauce, and also sells it at farmers’ markets. Wayne Parry, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024 The park is the third site in Montgomery created in recent years by Stevenson and his legal nonprofit, the Equal Justice Initiative. Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for create 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'create.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English createn, borrowed from Latin creātus, past participle of creāre "to bring into being, beget, give birth to, cause to grow," causative derivative from the base of crēscere "to come into existence, increase in size or numbers, grow" — more at crescent entry 1

Adjective

Middle English creat, borrowed from Latin creātus, past participle of creāre "to bring into being, beget, give birth to, cause to grow" — more at create entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of create was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near create

Cite this Entry

“Create.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/create. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

create

verb
cre·​ate
krē-ˈāt,
ˈkrē-ˌāt
created; creating
: to bring into existence : make, produce

More from Merriam-Webster on create

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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