Definition

1. Verb:
   • To create or devise something with skill or ingenuity: To plan or invent something, often through cleverness or careful thought.
   • To manage to do something despite difficulties: To succeed in making something happen, often through effort or scheming.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • The engineers had to contrive a solution using the limited materials available.
  • She contrived a clever excuse for being late to the meeting.
  • They contrived to finish the project on time, despite numerous setbacks.

Advanced Usage

• "to contrive to do something": To succeed in doing something, especially something difficult, by using effort or planning.
  • He contrived to make the small apartment feel spacious and welcoming.
• "a contrived plot/ending": A literary or narrative element that seems artificial, forced, or overly planned, lacking naturalness.
  • The film's conclusion felt contrived and unsatisfying.

Variants and Related Words

• Contrivance (n): 1. A device or invention, especially one that is cleverly or mechanically created. 2. The act of contriving; scheming.
  • The trap was a simple but effective contrivance.
• Contrived (adj): Deliberately created rather than arising naturally; seeming artificial or forced.
  • The dialogue in the play felt contrived and unrealistic.

Synonyms

• Devise: To plan or invent by careful thought.
• Concoct: To make something by combining various ingredients, often implying invention or fabrication (e.g., a story or plan).
• Engineer: To skillfully arrange for something to happen.
• Fabricate: To invent or construct, often with a connotation of deception.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Contrive" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically expressed through the verb itself or the construction "contrive to [verb].")

Related Idioms

• "to contrive a means/way": To devise a method or plan to achieve something.
  • We must contrive a way to communicate without being overheard.

Verb

1. put or send forth
   • She threw the flashlight beam into the corner
   • The setting sun threw long shadows
   • cast a spell
   • cast a warm light
2. come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
   • excogitate a way to measure the speed of light
3. make or work out a plan for; devise
   • They contrived to murder their boss
   • design a new sales strategy
   • plan an attack