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create
/kriˈeɪt/
make something new
She wants to create a beautiful painting.
She intends to produce a new piece of art.
general
To bring something into existence; to make or produce something new.
The artist created a stunning sculpture from recycled materials.
The artist made a new sculpture using old objects.
Scientists created a new vaccine to fight the disease.
Scientists developed a previously nonexistent vaccine.
Often implies intentionality and effort in the act of making.
formal
To cause or occasion something to happen or exist.
The new policy created opportunities for small businesses.
The policy resulted in new chances for small businesses.
Used in contexts where the result is significant or widespread.
artistic
To produce a work of art or literature.
He created several award-winning films in his career.
He produced multiple films that won awards.
Commonly used in artistic and literary contexts.
Collocations
create a problemcause difficultiescreate an opportunitygenerate a chancecreate artproduce visual or creative workscreate a websitebuild a site on the internetcreate chaoscause disorder
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Use 'create' for original work
Use 'create' when the focus is on the act of making something new or original, especially in artistic, scientific, or innovative contexts. For routine production, 'make' or 'produce' may be more appropriate.
Avoid overusing 'create'
While 'create' is versatile, it can sound overly formal or pretentious in casual contexts. In everyday speech, alternatives like 'make', 'build', or 'develop' are often more natural.
Gold Rule
Subject-Verb Agreement
The verb 'create' agrees with its subject in number and person: 'She creates', 'They create', 'I create'.
Passive Voice
The passive form 'is/are created' is commonly used to emphasize the result rather than the creator: 'A new law was created to address the issue.'
Word Origin
From Latin *creāre* 'to make, bring forth, produce, beget', from Proto-Italic *kreāō, from Proto-Indo-European *kreH₁- 'to sift, separate'. Entered English via Old French *creer* in the 14th century.
Usage Notes
The verb 'create' emphasizes the act of bringing something new into being, often with a sense of originality or intentional design. It can be used in both physical and abstract contexts (e.g., creating a sculpture, creating a feeling). Unlike 'make' or 'produce', it often implies a more deliberate or artistic process.
Word Breakdown
cre-
to grow or bring forth
root-ate
verb-forming suffix indicating action
suffixEnglish Dictionary