invite
Americanverb (used with object)
-
invites,
present (3rd person singular)
-
invited,
past participle, past
-
inviting
present participle
-
to request the presence or participation of in a kindly, courteous, or complimentary way, especially to request to come or go to some place, gathering, entertainment, etc., or to do something.
to invite friends to dinner.
- Synonyms:
- bid
-
to request politely or formally.
to invite donations.
- Synonyms:
- solicit
-
to act so as to bring on or render probable.
to invite accidents by fast driving.
-
to call forth or give occasion for.
Those big shoes invite laughter.
-
to attract, allure, entice, or tempt.
verb (used without object)
-
invites,
present (3rd person singular)
-
invited,
past participle, past
-
inviting
present participle
noun
-
invites
plural
verb
-
to ask (a person or persons) in a friendly or polite way (to do something, attend an event, etc)
he invited them to dinner
-
to make a request for, esp publicly or formally
to invite applications
-
to bring on or provoke; give occasion for
you invite disaster by your actions
-
to welcome or tempt
noun
Synonym Usage
See call.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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inviteenoun
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inviternoun
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invitornoun
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reinviteverb
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preinviteverb (used with object)
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quasi-invitedadjective
-
self-invitedadjective
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uninvitedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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invitesimple
-
invitessimple
-
have invitedperfect
-
has invitedperfect
-
am invitingprogressive
-
are invitingprogressive
-
is invitingprogressive
-
have been invitingperfect progressive
-
has been invitingperfect progressive
Past
-
invitedsimple
-
had invitedperfect
-
was invitingprogressive
-
were invitingprogressive
-
had been invitingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of invite
First recorded in 1525–35, invite is from the Latin word invītāre
Explanation
When you invite a friend to do something, you request her company, or encourage her to come with you. You might invite a group of neighbors to help you throw a block party. You could invite your friend to join you on a road trip, or invite your parents to your art show at a local gallery. You're making a polite request. Similarly, a newspaper might invite readers' comments, or a school might invite ideas for how to spend grant money. Invite is also casual shorthand for "invitation." When you tempt someone to react, you also invite that reaction: "Your strange film really invites harsh criticism."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
In other words, throw a party and invite a who’s who of L.A.’s fashion, nightlife and cultural milieu.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026
Megaspeed has reportedly continued buying Nvidia products this year, sometimes using intermediaries, and Chang said those purchases will likely invite questions over how the chip maker is vetting customers.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 31, 2026
It may surprise you that a process already exists, sort of, for allowing member states to invite a renegotiation with creditors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
“It’s not as much fun when you know someone had to invite you,” Madge says.
From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari
The project, a spin-off of the #MenToo awareness campaign that gained widespread traction in India in 2019, invites men to “join us in the fight for truth, fairness, and justice,” Wiley wrote on the website.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
“It invites you. That’s the quiet truth at the heart of every listening bar: the room listens back.”
From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2026
The company said it was "pleased that the consultation recognises the potential role of less visually intrusive overhead infrastructure, including monopoles, and invites evidence on their use".
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
Many of the top comments agree with you that the person who invites everyone to their birthday dinner should be the one to pay.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
His mother invites Maxine to please come again.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
All five boys who were injured, three aged 16 and two aged 17, had been invited to attend the supervised party.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
In 1997 Dylan was invited to perform in front of Pope John Paul II and about 300,000 young people for the 23rd National Eucharistic Congress in Bologna.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
Beginning with a group of around 70 competitors in 2007, Mr. Glassman invited athletes to compete annually in a variety of fitness categories.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026
One advantage of being 70 is that we keep getting invited to free dinners and lunches.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
We chuckled politely and invited him to make himself comfortable on one of the benches.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
Eisenkot, a former chief of Israel’s military, considered inviting the Arabs, but seemed to have decided against it as well.
From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2026
Asked about inviting him to the G20 in Manchester in 2027, Burnham told The Economist he "will not be coming because of an outstanding sanction" on senior Russian figures.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
Be it with candles or the pine sticks preferred in Sagada, lighting a flame is "inviting the presence of Christ with us, having fellowship with our departed loved ones", he said.
From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026
Now, Norway is making the most of its presidential publicity, inviting visitors to discover some of the world’s most scenic places to answer nature’s call.
From Salon ● Oct. 31, 2026
I once asked Ms. Tomoko, our waitress, why it waved, and she explained that Maneki-neko means “beckoning cat,” and waving the left paw means it’s inviting customers into the restaurant.
From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh
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