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Synonyms

invite

American  
[in-vahyt, in-vahyt] / ɪnˈvaɪt, ˈɪn vaɪt /

verb (used with object)

invited, inviting
  1. 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
  2. to request politely or formally.

    to invite donations.

    Synonyms:
    solicit
  3. to act so as to bring on or render probable.

    to invite accidents by fast driving.

  4. to call forth or give occasion for.

    Those big shoes invite laughter.

  5. to attract, allure, entice, or tempt.

    Synonyms:
    draw, lure

verb (used without object)

invited, inviting
  1. to give invitation; offer attractions or allurements.

noun

  1. Informal. an invitation.

invite British  

verb

  1. to ask (a person or persons) in a friendly or polite way (to do something, attend an event, etc)

    he invited them to dinner

  2. to make a request for, esp publicly or formally

    to invite applications

  3. to bring on or provoke; give occasion for

    you invite disaster by your actions

  4. to welcome or tempt

"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

noun

  1. an informal word for invitation

"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

Related Words

See call.

Other Word Forms

  • invitee noun
  • inviter noun
  • invitor noun
  • preinvite verb (used with object)
  • quasi-invited adjective
  • reinvite verb
  • self-invited adjective
  • uninvited adjective

Etymology

Origin of invite

First recorded in 1525–35, invite is from the Latin word invītāre

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.

“Every American is invited. We don’t care if you’re white or Black, rich or poor, young or old, rural or urban, controversial or a little bit boring, or somewhere in between.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Palms up, invite those bids,” he hollers to everyone.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the case of Portland, "it was like a radical costume ball and we all got invited," Mr Bogad said.

From BBC

Myanmar has invited international monitors to witness the poll, but few countries have answered.

From Barron's

Among them were the remains of what appear to be "feoderati", soldiers of continental origin invited to Britain by the Romans under treaty to provide military support, says Mr Young.

From BBC