contrive
gb/kəntɹˈaɪv/ us/kəntɹˈaɪv/
C1
Inglés
~ 8900
Acepciones
0 acepciones
Verbo
formal
C1
action
1
manage to do something difficult
To succeed in doing something that is difficult or not very likely, often by being clever or trying hard.
Patrón de uso:
to contrive to [verb]
Error frecuente:
Learners often use "contrive" where simple words like "manage" or "succeed" are more natural in everyday speech. "Contrive" is quite formal and often implies the result was unexpected, difficult, or required cleverness. Also, learners sometimes say *"contrive doing"* instead of the more natural "contrive to do" in this sense.
Sinónimos
manage (More common and neutral; does not suggest cleverness or unlikeliness as strongly as "contrive".)
|
succeed (Focuses on the positive result, without the slight sense of surprise or improbability in "contrive".)
Antónimos
fail (Direct opposite, as it means not to succeed in doing what you intended.)
Colocaciones
contrive to escape
|contrive to lose
|contrive to win
|somehow contrive to
|contrive to survive
|contrive to make
Temas
work
|daily life
|effort
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- Despite the chaos, she contrived to finish the report before the deadline.
- He somehow contrived to offend everyone in the room within ten minutes.
- They contrived to meet in secret, even though their schedules were completely full.
- The company contrived to stay profitable during the crisis by cutting costs aggressively.
- The director contrived to keep the project alive, even after the funding was cut.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- She contrived to pass the exam, even though she had little time to study.
- He contrived to get a ticket for the sold-out concert.
- They contrived to meet every week, even when they were very busy.
- He contrived to finish the work before his boss came back.
- We contrived to stay calm when the power went out.
Verbo
formal
C1
action
2
devise or invent something
To think of and create a plan, idea, or way of doing something, often in a smart or careful way.
Patrón de uso:
to contrive [a plan / a way / a method / a device]
Error frecuente:
Learners may confuse "contrive" with "contribute" or "construct" because of similar spelling. They may also overuse it where "plan" or "create" would be more natural in normal conversation. "Contrive" often has a slightly formal or sometimes negative flavor, especially when the plan is dishonest or artificial.
Sinónimos
devise (Very close in meaning; slightly more common and neutral in both technical and general contexts.)
|
engineer (Suggests designing or arranging something complex, sometimes with a hint of manipulation like "contrive.")
Antónimos
improvise (Opposite in that "improvise" means to do something without prior planning, while "contrive" implies careful planning or invention.)
Colocaciones
contrive a plan
|contrive a way
|contrive a method
|cleverly contrived
|carefully contrived
|contrive a device
Temas
planning
|creativity
|problem solving
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The team contrived a simple device to filter the water using only basic materials.
- She contrived a clever plan to reduce waste in the office.
- The hackers contrived a method to bypass the security system.
- He contrived a story to explain why he had missed the meeting.
- Scientists contrived a new technique for storing solar energy.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- They contrived a plan to save more money.
- She contrived a new way to teach the children.
- The engineer contrived a simple machine to lift the boxes.
- He contrived a story to make his friend feel better.
- We contrived a method to share the work fairly.
Verbo
formal
C1
action
3
arrange something in an artificial way
To make something happen on purpose in a way that feels fake or not natural.
Patrón de uso:
to contrive [a meeting / a scene / an outcome]
Error frecuente:
Learners often know the adjective "contrived" (for example, "a contrived story") but are unsure how the verb is used. In this sense, the subject is usually a person (or writer, director, etc.) who deliberately arranges something that ends up feeling fake. It is not used for naturally occurring events.
Sinónimos
engineer (Also suggests arranging something behind the scenes; lacks the strong "unnatural" or "forced" feeling of "contrive" in this sense.)
|
orchestrate (Emphasizes careful coordination; can be neutral or positive, whereas "contrive" here often sounds critical.)
Antónimos
let happen naturally (Describes the opposite approach: not arranging or forcing events, but allowing them to develop on their own.)
Colocaciones
contrive a meeting
|carefully contrived scene
|contrive an excuse
|contrive an outcome
|plot is contrived
|events were contrived
Temas
deception
|art
|media
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The meeting between the two leaders was clearly contrived to appear accidental.
- Critics complained that the film’s happy ending felt contrived and unconvincing.
- He contrived an awkward silence so that his comment would have more impact.
- The author contrives a series of coincidences to bring the characters together.
- Their reunion seemed so perfectly timed that it almost appeared contrived.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- The surprise party was contrived by his friends, not really a surprise.
- The story’s ending feels contrived, not real.
- The boss contrived a meeting so the two workers would talk.
- Their chance meeting in the café was actually contrived.
- The joke sounded contrived and not very funny.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
contrive
AFI
GB/kəntɹˈaɪv/
US/kəntɹˈaɪv/
Sílabas y acento
con - trive (2 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (trive)
Formas de la palabra
Verb
- Base: contrive
- 3rd Person Singular: contrives
- Present Participle: contriving
- Past: contrived
Familia de palabras
Forms
contrives
verb
contriving
verb
contrived
verb
Core family
contrivance
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
uncontrived
adjective
Expresiones
Todavía no hay expresiones vinculadas a esta entrada.