create

American  

[kree-eyt] / kriˈeɪt /

verb (used with object)

creates, present (3rd person singular) created, past participle, past creating present participle

1. to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes.

2. to evolve from one's own thought or imagination, as a work of art or an invention.

   Synonyms:

   invent, contrive, devise, initiate, originate

3. Theater. to perform (a role) for the first time or in the first production of a play.

4. to make by investing with new rank or by designating; constitute; appoint.

   to create a peer.

5. to be the cause or occasion of; give rise to.

   The announcement created confusion.

6. to cause to happen; bring about; arrange, as by intention or design.

   to create a revolution; to create an opportunity to ask for a raise.

---

verb (used without object)

creates, present (3rd person singular) created, past participle, past creating present participle

1. to do something creative or constructive.

2. British. to make a fuss.

adjective

1. Archaic. created.

create British  

/ kriːˈeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to cause to come into existence

2. (tr) to invest with a new honour, office, or title; appoint

3. (tr) to be the cause of

   these circumstances created the revolution

4. (tr) to act (a role) in the first production of a play

5. (intr) to be engaged in creative work

6. slang (intr) to make a fuss or uproar

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• creatable
  adjective
• self-creating
  adjective
• uncreatable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• creating
  present
• created
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• create
  simple
• creates
  simple
• have created
  perfect
• has created
  perfect
• am creating
  progressive
• are creating
  progressive
• is creating
  progressive
• have been creating
  perfect progressive
• has been creating
  perfect progressive

Past

• created
  simple
• had created
  perfect
• was creating
  progressive
• were creating
  progressive
• had been creating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will create
  simple
• will have created
  perfect
• will be creating
  progressive
• will have been creating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of create

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English creat (past participle), from Latin creātus, equivalent to creā- (stem of creāre “to make”) + -tus past participle suffix

Explanation

To create simply means to make or bring into existence. Bakers create cakes, ants create problems at picnics, and you probably created a few imaginary friends when you were little. Similar to conceive and spawn and the exact opposite of destroy, create is a word that often implies a little bit of imagination. In fact, it takes a lot of creativity to create something spectacular; that is, unless you're a robot, and then your creations occur automatically. Or Mother Nature, where creation just happens naturally: Birds create nests, the tides create waves, and snowstorms create days off from school.

Example Sentences

“When you attach multiple boxes, you create a physical gap between the speakers,” Vaissié explained.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2026

Direct lithium extraction, or DLE, has the potential to transform production of the battery metal, according to the International Energy Agency, which forecasts rapidly growing lithium demand to create a market shortfall by the 2030s.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 6, 2026

Mexico would use their two left-sided players to create dangerous triangles, not dissimilar to how England have played throughout the World Cup.

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026

"The proposed transaction brings together two of the UK's most trusted, recognisable and complementary media organisations to create a stronger media business," Sky said in a statement Monday.

From Barron's • Jul. 6, 2026

I just couldn’t imagine how that was going to create fire, but sure enough a tiny tendril of smoke suddenly erupted between the sticks.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Related Words

• build
• conceive
• construct
• design
• devise
• discover
• establish
• forge
• form
• found
• generate
• initiate
• invent
• make
• organize
• plan
• produce
• set up
• shape
• spawn