conceived; conceiving
1
a
: to become pregnant with (young)
conceive a child
b
: to cause to begin : originate
a project conceived by the company's founder
2
a
: to take into one's mind
conceive a prejudice
b
: to form a conception of : imagine
a badly conceived design
cleverly conceived teleplays
3
: to apprehend by reason or imagination : understand
unable to conceive his reasons
It is easy enough to conceive the notion that your island is a sort of fortress.—
Paul Theroux
Paul Theroux4
: to have as an opinion
I cannot conceive that he acted alone.
1
: to become pregnant
2
: to have a conception
—usually used with of
conceives of death as emptiness
It is hard to conceive of all the work that must have been involved in starting off from scratch.—Harold Fromm
Harold Fromm
conceiver
noun
Examples of conceive in a Sentence
When the writer conceived this role, he had a specific actor in mind to play the part.
As conceived by the committee, the bill did not raise taxes.
a woman who has been unable to conceive
a woman who has been unable to conceive a child
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead of ponying up whatever Sheridan conceived to be his 2025 FMV, the young Paramount Skydance has elected to cut huge checks to the South Park guys and the Stranger Things guys.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
After all, the Big Dig was originally conceived in the early 1970s, construction began in December ‘91, and wasn’t officially completed until 2007.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Made in equal parts as creator Hugo Ensslin originally conceived it, the Green Chartreuse utterly dominates the experience, but back down the liqueur and boost the other two ingredients a touch, and the Tipperary is a bold but charming drink.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025
And a single visit in 1984 to conceive their son.
—Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conceive
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Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
After all, the Big Dig was originally conceived in the early 1970s, construction began in December ‘91, and wasn’t officially completed until 2007.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Made in equal parts as creator Hugo Ensslin originally conceived it, the Green Chartreuse utterly dominates the experience, but back down the liqueur and boost the other two ingredients a touch, and the Tipperary is a bold but charming drink.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2025
And a single visit in 1984 to conceive their son.
—Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conceive
Cite this Entry
“Conceive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conceive. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
conceive
verb
con·ceive
kən-ˈsēv 
conceived; conceiving
1
: to become pregnant or pregnant with
conceive a child
2
a
: to take into the mind
conceived a liking for the singer
b
: to form an idea of : imagine
conceive a new design
3
: to have as an opinion : think
conceived of her as a genius
conceivable
adjective
-ˈsē-və-bəl
conceivably
adverb
-blē
conceiver
noun
Medical Definition
conceive
verb
con·ceive
kən-ˈsēv
conceived; conceiving
: to become pregnant with (young)
: to become pregnant
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