invest

American  

[in-vest] / ɪnˈvɛst /

verb (used with object)

1. to put (money) to use, by purchase or expenditure, in something offering potential profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value.

2. to use (money), as in accumulating something.

   to invest large sums in books.

3. to use, give, or devote (time, talent, etc.), as for a purpose or to achieve something.

   He invested a lot of time in cleaning up the neighborhood after the flood.

4. to furnish with power, authority, rank, etc..

   The Constitution invests the president with the power of veto.

5. to furnish or endow with a power, right, etc.; vest.

   Feudalism invested the lords with absolute authority over their vassals.

6. to endow with a quality or characteristic.

   to invest a friend with every virtue.

7. to infuse or belong to, as a quality or characteristic.

   Goodness invests his every action.

8. Metallurgy. to surround (a pattern) with an investment.

9. to provide with the insignia of office.

10. to install in an office or position.

11. to clothe, attire, or dress.

12. to cover, adorn, or envelop.

    Spring invests the trees with leaves.

13. to surround (a place) with military forces or works so as to prevent approach or escape; besiege.

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verb (used without object)

1. to invest money; make an investment.

   to invest in oil stock.

invest British  

/ ɪnˈvɛst /

verb

1. (often foll by in) to lay out (money or capital in an enterprise, esp by purchasing shares) with the expectation of profit

2. to devote (effort, resources, etc, to a project)

3. archaic (tr; often foll by in or with) to clothe or adorn (in some garment, esp the robes of an office)

   to invest a king in the insignia of an emperor

4. to install formally or ceremoniously (in an official position, rank, etc)

5. (tr; foll by in or with) to place (power, authority, etc, in) or provide (with power or authority)

   to invest new rights in the monarchy

6. (tr; usually passive; foll by in or with) to provide or endow (a person with qualities, characteristics, etc)

   he was invested with great common sense

7. poetic to cover or adorn, as if with a coat or garment

   when spring invests the trees with leaves

8. rare (tr) to surround with military forces; besiege

9. informal to purchase; buy

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Other Word Forms

• investable adjective
• investor noun
• noninvestor noun
• overinvest verb
• preinvest verb (used with object)
• reinvest verb (used with object)
• underinvest verb (used without object)
• underinvested adjective
• uninvested adjective
• well-invested adjective

Etymology

Origin of invest

First recorded in 1525–35; from Old Italian investire, from Medieval Latin investīre “to install, invest (money), surround, clothe in,” Latin: “to clothe, deck, adorn,” equivalent to in- prefix + vestīre “to clothe, dress,” derivative of vestis “clothes, garment”; in- ², vest

Example Sentences

Partnering with the U.S. and other governments gives Orion more confidence to invest in developing markets in which it doesn’t yet have a presence, the executive said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Wiederhorn has denied wrongdoing and said lenders were aware of his use of company funds when they invested in FAT Brands.

From The Wall Street Journal

And 48% of U.S. investors remain “very interested” in sustainable investing, with support even higher among younger investors, according to a 2025 survey conducted by Morgan Stanley.

From The Wall Street Journal

She’d been so invested, my mother, in making sure I had the right kind of party.

From Literature

Bloom said when he invested in Hearts he wanted to "disrupt" the Old Firm dominance and saw the Edinburgh club winning the title within a decade.

From BBC

Related Words

• devote
• lend
• provide
• spend
• supply