create

To bring into existence; (sometimes in particular:)

Adjective

  1. Created, resulting from creation.
    • Hearts create of duty and zeal. - 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
    • Before me things create were none, save things / Eternal, and eternal I endure. / All hope abandon ye who enter here. [Inscription on the gate of Hell.] - 1814, Dante Alighieri, “Canto III”, in H[enry] F[rancis] Cary,...

Origin

From Middle English createn, from Latin creātus, the perfect passive participle of creō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix). In this sense, mostly displaced Old English wyrċan (whence Modern English work) and ġesċieppan (whence Modern English shape).

Forms

more create most create creäte

Verb

  1. To bring into existence; (sometimes in particular:)
    • You can create the color orange by mixing yellow and red.
    • … God created man a moral agent. - 1829, Thomas Tully Crybbace, An Essay on Moral Freedom
    • Creating a complete map of the human connectome would therefore be a monumental milestone but not the end of the journey to understanding how our brains work. - 2012 March-April, Terrence J. Sejnowski, “Well-connected...

    Synonyms: generate make

    Antonyms: annihilate extinguish

    1. (especially of a god) To bring into existence out of nothing, without the prior existence of the materials or elements used.

      • In the beginning God created yᵉ heauen and the earth. And the earth was without forme & voyde, and darkenes was vpon the depe, & the Spirit of God moued vpon the waters. - 1560, [William Whittingham et al., transl.],...

      Synonyms: generate make

      Antonyms: annihilate extinguish

    2. To make or produce from other (e.g. raw, unrefined or scattered) materials or combinable elements or ideas; to design or invest with a new form, shape, function, etc.

      • Couturiers create exclusive garments for an affluent clientele.
      • From the ground, Colombo’s port does not look like much.[…] But viewed from high up in one of the growing number of skyscrapers in Sri Lanka’s capital, it is clear that something extraordinary is happening: China is...

      Synonyms: generate make invent

      Antonyms: annihilate extinguish imitate

  2. To cause, to bring (a non-object) about by an action, behavior, or event, to occasion.
    • crop failures created food shortages and high prices; his stubbornness created many difficulties
    • A sudden chemical spill on the highway created a chain‐collision which created a record traffic jam.
    • The turmoil went on—no rest, no peace. […] It was nearly eleven o'clock now, and he strolled out again. In the little fair created by the costers' barrows the evening only seemed beginning; and the naphtha flares made...
  3. To confer or invest with a rank or title of nobility, to appoint, ordain or constitute.
    • Henry VIII created him a Duke. Last month, the queen created two barons.
    • Under the concordate with Belgium, at least one Belgian clergyman must be created cardinal; by tradition, every archbishop of Mechelen is thus created a cardinal.
    • Create him Prorex of Affrica, That he may win the Babilonians hearts, Which will reuolt from Perſean gouernment, Unleſſe they haue a wiſer King than you. - c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine...
  4. To be or do something creative, imaginative, originative.
    • Children usually enjoy creating, never mind if it is of any use!
  5. In theatre, to be the first performer of a role; to originate a character.
  6. To make a fuss, complain; to shout.
    • 'What's the time?' she said. 'I must fly. Miss'll start creating.' - 1972, H. E. Bates, The Song of the Wren:

Forms

creates creating created no-table-tags glossary create createst createdst createth - creäte

Synonyms

bring forth cause contrive create develop engender evolve generate gin up innate form forthbring make produce spawn

Antonyms

destroy

Hypernyms

exist

Hyponyms

assemble beget birth bring about build coin constitute establish evoke instantiate invent put together produce sensation set up

Related

creable creatability creatable creation creational creationally creationarily creationary creationism creationist creationistic creationistically creative creatively creativeness creativity creator creatorship creatress creatrix creatural creature creatureliness creaturely

Derived

cocreate concreate creatard create daylight between oneself and someone creotard discreate increate miscreate newcreate noncreating self-create transcreate uncreate