invest

[in-vest]

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.

verb (used without object)

1. to invest money; make an investment.

   to invest in oil stock.

invest

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• 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
• investable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of invest¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of invest¹

C16: from Medieval Latin investīre to clothe, from Latin, from vestīre, from vestis a garment

Example Sentences

The company invests the reserves in Treasurys and pockets the interest.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It has been investing heavily in tech and AI, encouraging firms to innovate and make big bets.

Read more on BBC

She said it also meant the industry was less able to invest because of the costs of debt.

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They can sell their stock and defer capital-gains tax, potentially forever, so long as they use the proceeds to invest in a diversified portfolio or buy Treasury securities.

Read more on MarketWatch

“So by investing in a hospital, you’re better able to convey the character of your company to the market?”

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Related Words

• devote 
• lend 
• provide 
• spend 
• supply