Meaning & use
devise
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To work out a plan, method or tool by thinking carefully, often with some cleverness.
Grammar: Always takes an object: she devised a plan, not she devised.
Patterns
- devise a plan
- devise a way to do something
- devise something for someone
The engineers devised a simple way to keep the bridge from swaying.
She devised a game to help her students learn the new vocabulary.
We need to devise a better system for sorting the mail.
verbtransitivelegaltechnical
To leave land or property to someone in a will.
Grammar: Takes an object and often to: he devised the farm to his daughter.
Patterns
- devise something to someone
In his will, he devised the house to his youngest son.
The land was devised to the church in 1850.
She devised her estate to a local charity.
Word forms
| third person singular | devises |
|---|---|
| past tense | devised |
| past participle | devised |
| -ing form | devising |
Common combinations
- devise a plan
- The team devised a plan to cut costs.
- devise a strategy
- Coaches devised a strategy for the final match.
- devise a scheme
- He devised a scheme to avoid paying tax.
- devise a method
- Scientists devised a new method for testing water.
- cleverly devised
- It was a cleverly devised puzzle that few could solve.
Synonyms and how they differ
- invent
- Invent means to create something new that did not exist, while devise often means working out a plan or method using existing ideas.
- design
- Design suggests planning the form or layout of something, whereas devise stresses the thinking that produces a plan or trick.
- concoct
- Concoct is more informal and often suggests a slightly dubious or elaborate story or scheme, while devise is neutral.
- contrive
- Contrive often hints at something artificial or sly, whereas devise sounds more neutral and intelligent.
Word family
Commonly confused: devise or device? devise or advise?
devise vs device
Device is a noun for a gadget or tool and rhymes with advice; devise is a verb and ends in the sound /z/.
devise vs advise
Advise means to give someone guidance, while devise means to plan or invent.
Practice
Which sentence uses devise correctly?
Choose one answer.
Devise is a verb meaning to plan or invent, so a teacher devising a quiz is correct. The other sentences need the noun device or the verb advise.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “devise”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.