contrive
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
To plan or create something, often in a clever or skillful way, but sometimes with a sense of artificiality or scheming.
1. To bring something about deliberately through planning, skill, or ingenuity, often with limited resources. 2. To invent or devise a plan or scheme. 3. (Often used negatively or with a critical tone) To plan or scheme in a manipulative or underhanded way.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb 'contrive' occupies a nuanced semantic space. While it can be neutral or even positive (suggesting ingenuity and cleverness), it often carries a negative connotation of artificiality, manipulation, or forced effort, especially in past tense/past participle forms (e.g., 'a contrived smile', 'a contrived plot'). The context heavily determines the connotation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The word is used with similar frequency and nuance in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British English for neutral/positive meanings (e.g., 'to contrive a meeting'). In both varieties, the adjective 'contrived' is the most common form, carrying the negative connotation of being unnatural or forced.
Frequency
Low-to-medium frequency in both formal writing and speech. The adjective 'contrived' is more common than the verb 'to contrive'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
contrive + to-infinitive (e.g., contrive to be)contrive + NP (e.g., contrive a plan)contrive + NP + to-infinitive (archaic, e.g., contrive him to leave)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A triumph of contrivance”
- “(to be) a contrivance too far”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Formal. Used in strategic or project planning contexts, often to imply clever or non-standard solutions. 'The team contrived a novel financing structure for the acquisition.'
Academic
Formal. Common in literary and social criticism, especially the adjective 'contrived' to critique artificial plots or arguments. 'The novel's resolution feels overly contrived and undermines its realism.'
Everyday
Rare in casual speech. The adjective 'contrived' is more likely in reviews or critical discussion. 'That reality show's drama seems so contrived.'
Technical
Very rare. Not a standard technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He managed to contrive a meeting with the CEO through a mutual friend.
- The engineers had to contrive a temporary solution using spare parts.
- She contrived to make it look like an accident.
American English
- They contrived a plan to reduce costs without laying anyone off.
- The writer contrived a convoluted ending that left readers unsatisfied.
- He always contrives to get the best seat in the house.
adjective
British English
- The film's dialogue felt rather contrived and unnatural.
- She gave a contrived smile when she saw her rival.
- The political alliance was a clearly contrived arrangement.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She contrived a way to open the jar.
- He contrived to finish the project on time despite the problems.
- The story's happy ending seemed a little contrived.
- The opposition parties contrived an unlikely coalition to form a government.
- Critics panned the film for its contrived plot and one-dimensional characters.
- Through a series of artfully contrived coincidences, the protagonist's past is gradually revealed.
- The diplomat contrived a delicate compromise that satisfied all parties, at least superficially.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CONTRIve' as making a CONTRibution to a situation by using TRIcky or clever VEnturing.
Conceptual Metaphor
CREATING IS WEAVING (to contrive comes from Old French 'controuver', related to finding/inventing, akin to 'weaving' a story or plan).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating as 'устроить' or 'организовать' in neutral contexts, as it often sounds too positive and misses the potential nuance of manipulation. 'Изобретать' or 'выдумывать' are closer to the inventive sense, while 'интриговать' or 'строить козни' capture the negative, scheming aspect.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a simple synonym for 'create' or 'make' without the nuance of cleverness or scheming. Confusing it with 'contrary' or 'contribute'. Using 'contrive' as a noun (incorrect; the noun is 'contrivance').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'contrive' with its most common NEGATIVE connotation?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is context-dependent. It can be positive when describing clever, ingenious solutions (e.g., 'contrive a clever escape'), but more often carries a negative connotation of artificiality, manipulation, or forced effort, especially in its adjective form 'contrived'.
'Invent' suggests creating something entirely new. 'Devise' is a neutral synonym for planning or inventing, often a method or plan. 'Contrive' overlaps with 'devise' but often implies a sense of cleverness with limited means and/or a degree of artificiality or scheming.
Yes, but it is less common. In formal contexts, it can be used neutrally (e.g., 'to contrive a means of communication'), though the simpler 'devise' or 'arrange' is often preferred for pure neutrality.
The past participle 'contrived' used as an adjective is by far the most common form in modern English, especially in critical language (e.g., 'a contrived plot', 'a contrived smile').