invest

[ in-vest ]

/ ɪnˈvɛst /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: invest / invested / investing / investor on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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

to use (money), as in accumulating something: to invest large sums in books.

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.

to furnish with power, authority, rank, etc.: The Constitution invests the president with the power of veto.

to furnish or endow with a power, right, etc.; vest: Feudalism invested the lords with absolute authority over their vassals.

to endow with a quality or characteristic: to invest a friend with every virtue.

to infuse or belong to, as a quality or characteristic: Goodness invests his every action.

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

to provide with the insignia of office.

to install in an office or position.

to clothe, attire, or dress.

to cover, adorn, or envelop: Spring invests the trees with leaves.

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

verb (used without object)

to invest money; make an investment: to invest in oil stock.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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”; see in-², vest

OTHER WORDS FROM invest

in·ves·tor, nounnon·in·ves·tor, nouno·ver·in·vest, verbpre·in·vest, verb (used with object)

re·in·vest, verb (used with object)un·der·in·vest, verb (used without object)un·der·in·vest·ed, adjectiveun·in·vest·ed, adjectivewell-in·vest·ed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH invest

infect, infest, invest

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use invest in a sentence

We’ll invest $400 billion — that’s how much the federal government will spend — for products made by American workers.
Election live updates: Trump returns to Wisconsin; Biden to face live audience at town hall|Colby Itkowitz, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
Regardless of where you live, if you’re an outdoors person investing in an ATV, you want to maximize its potential for your intended purpose.
Six ways to make your ATV even more rugged|By Tyler Freel/Outdoor Life|September 17, 2020|Popular-Science
Redwood is one of five companies Amazon is investing in as part of its $2 billion Climate Pledge Fund, announced this year.
Why Amazon is backing this former Tesla executive’s recycling startup|Financial Times|September 17, 2020|Ars Technica
For 10 years, Arctaris has invested successfully in low-income neighborhoods, often in partnership with government and philanthropy.
Opportunity Zones haven’t fully reached their potential, but don’t write them off yet|jakemeth|September 16, 2020|Fortune

I heard that phrase—“Square is a beast”—two years ago from a venture capitalist who invests in payments and fintech firms.
‘Square is a beast’|Jeff|September 16, 2020|Fortune
They are personally invested in my growth not only as a dominatrix but as a kinkster and a person.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was a personal thing she was working towards, and I felt very invested as well seeing her level of commitment.
Angelina Jolie’s New Muse: The Rise of Jack O’Connell, Star of the WWII Epic ‘Unbroken’|Marlow Stern|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They have experimented with new products and have invested millions into aggressive marketing and promotion.
House of the Witch: The Renegade Craft Brewers of Panama|Jeff Campagna|November 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Another of the companies in which Alexander invested at the time also drew the attention of Chinese cyberspies.
NSA Chief Bet Money on AT&T as It Spied on You|Shane Harris|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But they were not making enough profits, as the rate of growth had slowed as Brazil invested in the welfare of its own people.
What Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff Can Teach Hillary Clinton|Heather Arnet|October 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Accordingly, early in 1799 the general found himself invested with the important command of the Army of Switzerland.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
I would gladly avail myself of your offer, but the Residency will be invested in less than an hour.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
In accordance with that statement, he had decided that on the next day his son should be formally "invested" with the top-knot.
Our Little Korean Cousin|H. Lee M. Pike
The invested funds of the society to-day amount to upwards of a million, and in 1897 they were £476,000.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
Then followed various clauses defining the duties and authority with which Mr. Hunt, as Manager, was invested.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow

British Dictionary definitions for invest

invest

/ (ɪnˈvɛst) /

verb

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

(tr often foll by in) to devote (effort, resources, etc, to a project)

(tr; often foll by in or with) mainly archaic to clothe or adorn (in some garment, esp the robes of an office)to invest a king in the insignia of an emperor

(tr often foll by in) to install formally or ceremoniously (in an official position, rank, etc)

(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

(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

(tr foll by with) usually poetic to cover or adorn, as if with a coat or garmentwhen spring invests the trees with leaves

(tr) rare to surround with military forces; besiege

(intr foll by in) informal to purchase; buy

Derived forms of invest

investable or investible, adjectiveinvestor, noun

Word Origin for invest

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

invest

Origin of invest

OTHER WORDS FROM invest

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH invest

Words related to invest

How to use invest in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for invest

Derived forms of invest

Word Origin for invest