creative

/kriˈeɪtɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /kriˈeɪtɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /krē-ˈā-tiv ˈkrē-ˌā-/ (ame, mw) · /kriˈeɪ.tɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /kriˈeɪ.t̬ɪv/ (ame, ipa)

creative — adjective

  • creativepositive
  • more creativecomparative
  • most creativesuperlative

1. using imagination or skill to make or think of something new, such as a story, a

1.形容詞B1
釋義

using imagination or skill to make or think of something new, such as a story, a piece of art, a design, or a way to solve a problem.

例句

Valentina came up with a creative way to recycle old newspapers into gift bags.

creative way to [do something]

The school's creative writing program helped Mayumi build her storytelling skills.

creative writing — set phrase for imaginative writing

同義詞
  • imaginative

    strongly overlaps but often suggests fantasy or invention rather than problem-solving

  • inventive

    focuses on practical novelty, especially in technology or engineering

  • original

    emphasises novelty and being unlike anything that came before

  • innovative

    suggests new methods or ideas that bring about change, often in business or science

反義詞

文法句型

creative + noun

be creative (predicative)

用法筆記

Frequently followed by a noun that names the output (creative writing, creative design, creative solution). Can also appear as a predicate adjective after be, feel, or seem: "She felt creative that morning."

常見錯誤

❌She is a very creative.
✅She is a very creative person.' or 'She is very creative.
💡as an adjective, creative needs a noun after it or a linking verb before it; it cannot stand alone as a noun in this sense.

2. describing things in an unusual and imaginative way to hide the truth or avoid f

2.形容詞B2
釋義

describing things in an unusual and imaginative way to hide the truth or avoid following rules, often used to criticise dishonest or misleading behaviour.

例句

The accountant used creative methods to hide the company's losses from investors.

creative accounting — euphemism for dishonest financial reporting

Haruto gave a creative explanation for why the project was late, but nobody believed him.

同義詞
  • dubious

    focuses on questionable honesty rather than imagination

  • dishonest

    stronger and more direct; less playful in tone

  • imaginative

    sometimes used ironically in the same way as creative sense 2

反義詞

文法句型

creative + noun (accounting, interpretation, reading)

用法筆記

Almost always used before a noun (creative accounting, creative interpretation) and carries a critical or ironic tone. Not used as a predicate adjective in this sense — one does not say "His accounting is creative" without sounding sarcastic.

常見錯誤

❌He used creative accounting to save money legally.
✅He used creative accounting to hide money from the tax office.
💡creative accounting is deceptive, not simply clever or efficient.

creative — noun