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

• 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

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

Ward, who owned multiple cars at one point, was called out by Freddie, who encouraged him to invest his money in property instead.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Some 59% of survey respondents had a general interest in investing in private companies, when told that they make up the majority of U.S. firms with annual revenue more than $100 million.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Yet a wider gap between the cost of owning and renting has bolstered the argument for renting and investing.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But amid Birmingham's political tensions and the challenges many parts of the city face, billions of pounds are being invested.

Read more on BBC

By 2024, after investing in new technology, the water quality had been improved, the provincial government told the Canadian Press news agency.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• devote 
• lend 
• provide 
• spend 
• supply