Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Outlining why Patterson's crime was so "dreadful", they talked of the "betrayal of trust" of family members whom she had invited for lunch.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
In February, Cadiz announced that the federal Environmental Protection Agency had invited it to submit an application for a $194 million low-interest loan for the northern pipeline project.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
Lee added that in a meeting at the Vatican this week he had invited Pope Leo for a visit next year, to attend World Youth Day in Seoul.
From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026
The administration had invited executives to Washington for the Thursday signing and was setting up the room for the ceremony when Trump pulled the plug, people familiar with the matter said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026
Sitting at the table, busily mixing and measuring, was the man who had invited them in.
From "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster
