devise
/dɪˈvaɪz/To think carefully and create a plan, method, or system for doing something. It often suggests cleverness or effort in the planning process.
- Scientists devised a new method to test water quality.
- The team devised a plan to reduce costs by 20%.
- She devised a clever way to remember new vocabulary.
In law, a devise is a gift of land or real property that someone leaves to another person in their will. This meaning is technical and mostly used in legal contexts.
- The devise of the farmland went to his eldest son.
- Her lawyer explained the devise clause in the will.
Adinary Nuance
Devise sits close to invent, design, formulate, and contrive — but each fits a different situation. Use devise when someone creates a plan, strategy, or method through careful thinking; "invent" is for creating a brand-new physical thing or technology. Design focuses on how something looks or is structured, while devise is purely about the thinking and planning behind it. Formulate is slightly more scientific (you formulate a hypothesis, a policy, a drug); devise is broader and works for any kind of strategy or solution. Contrive carries a slightly negative tone — it suggests the result feels forced or manipulative — whereas devise is neutral and fits well in academic and professional writing.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Nghĩ ra / Lên kế hoạch
- Spanish
- Idear
- Chinese
- 设计；策划
- Japanese
- 考案する
- Korean
- 고안하다
Etymology
From Old French "deviser" (to divide, arrange, plan), rooted in Latin "divisare," from "dividere" (to divide). The word entered Middle English around the 14th century, and its core sense of "thinking up a plan" has remained stable ever since.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'devise' formal or informal?
- Devise is moderately formal. It is common in academic writing, business reports, and IELTS essays. In casual speech, people often say 'come up with' instead — for example, 'come up with a plan' rather than 'devise a plan.'
- What is the difference between 'devise' and 'invent'?
- 'Invent' means to create something entirely new, usually a product or technology. 'Devise' means to plan or figure out a method or strategy. You invent a machine; you devise a way to use it more efficiently.
- Can I use 'devise' in an IELTS essay?
- Yes, absolutely. 'Devise' is a strong academic verb. Phrases like 'governments should devise effective policies' or 'researchers devised an experiment' are natural in IELTS Task 2 and academic writing.
- What is the noun form of 'devise'?
- The common noun form is 'device' (a tool or method) or 'devising' (the act of planning). In legal English, 'devise' itself is used as a noun meaning a gift of property in a will, but this is a specialist usage.