What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
innovate
Example
The company is known for its ability to innovate and stay ahead of the competition. [innovate: verb]
Example
The team brainstormed ways to innovate their marketing strategy. [innovate: infinitive]
devise
Example
The team devised a plan to increase sales by targeting a new demographic. [devised: past tense]
Example
She spent hours devising a way to fix the broken machine. [devising: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Devise is less common than innovate in everyday language. Innovate is a versatile term that can be used in various contexts, while devise is more specific and often used in technical or professional settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between innovate and devise?
Both innovate and devise are formal words that are commonly used in professional or academic contexts. However, innovate may be more commonly used in business and technology, while devise may be more commonly used in legal or scientific contexts.