Cool MateCome up with this vs Devise
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Come up with this
Top 2,000 (common)
Devise
Top 3,000 (common)C1verb
Most common: Come up with this
| Come up with this | Devise | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kʌm ʌp wɪð ðɪs//🇺🇸 //kʌm ʌp wɪð ðɪs// | 🇬🇧 //dɪˈvaɪz//🇺🇸 //dɪˈvaɪz// |
| Meaning | Think of an idea or suggestion. | To invent or plan something in a careful way. |
| Example | Can you come up with this new marketing strategy? | She had to devise a new marketing strategy for the product. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | come up with an idea, come up with a solution, come up with a plan, come up with a suggestion, come up with a proposal | devise a plan, devise a strategy, devise a solution, devise methods, devise a schedule |
| Antonyms | - | destroy, neglect, suppress |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'come up to' which means to approach., Using 'with' without an object, e.g., 'come up with.', Misplacing the phrase within a sentence leading to unclear meaning. | Confusing with 'device', which refers to a physical object., Using 'devise' with non-action verbs incorrectly., Misplacing the tense or form when used with complex subjects. |
| Usage notes | Used to express the act of generating ideas or solutions. Common in both spoken and written contexts but less formal in tone. | Commonly used in academic and professional contexts; less formal in conversational language. Avoid using in casual or slang situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Come up with this vs Devise
What's the difference between Come up with this and Devise?
Come up with this: Think of an idea or suggestion. Devise: To invent or plan something in a careful way.
Which is more common: Come up with this and Devise?
Come up with this is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Come up with this: Can you come up with this new marketing strategy? Devise: She had to devise a new marketing strategy for the product.
Can I use Come up with this and Devise interchangeably?
Not always. Come up with this and Devise are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.