invitationin‧vi‧ta‧tion /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/ ●●● S2 noun 
an invitation to speak at a scientific conferenceinvitation to Roger never turns down an invitation to dinner.2[uncountable] the act of being invited or of inviting someone to go somewhere or do somethingby invitation Attendance at the seminars is by invitation only (=only those people who have been invited can attend). They were always dropping by, usually without invitation.at somebody’s invitation/at the invitation of somebody Kegl traveled to Nicaragua at the invitation of the Education Minister.3[countable] a card inviting someone to attend a party, wedding etcparty/wedding invitation We sent out more than 300 wedding invitations.invitation to Did you get an invitation to Jason’s party?4[singular, uncountable] encouragement to do somethingtake something as an invitation to do something He seemed to take my silence as an invitation to talk.5be an open invitation for/to somebody to make it very easy for someone to rob you or harm you: Leaving the car unlocked is just an open invitation to thieves.COLLOCATIONS– Meanings 1, 2 & 3verbsget/receive an invitation· Did you get an invitation to Janet's party?have an invitation· The following week, I had an invitation to give a talk in Cambridge.accept an invitation· She accepted his invitation to dinner.take up somebody's invitation/take somebody up on their invitation (=accept someone's invitation)· I decided to take them up on their invitation to dinner.refuse/turn down an invitation (also decline an invitation formal)· She turned down an invitation to take part in a televised debate.give somebody an invitation (also issue/extend an invitation formal)· He has issued an invitation to the Chinese president to come to Washington.send (somebody) an invitation· We sent out the invitations last week.thank somebody for an invitation· I'll have to write a letter thanking Martha for the invitation to her wedding.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + invitationa party/wedding invitation· He had a wedding invitation from Rob and Jen.a dinner/lunch invitation· Fred's wife has accepted the dinner invitation.a formal/official invitation· The president received a formal invitation to visit Nigeria.a personal invitation· Each parent was sent a personal invitation for the school's open day.somebody's kind invitation· It gives me great pleasure to accept your kind invitation.a special invitation· We received a special invitation to attend a reception at the embassy.an open/standing invitation (=an invitation to do something at any time you like)· Phillip kindly gave me an open invitation to stay at his villa in Tuscany.a long-standing invitation (=an invitation which someone has had for a long time)· He had accepted a long-standing invitation to address the conference.invitation + NOUNan invitation card (=a card with an invitation printed on it)· Everyone entering will have to show an invitation card.phrasesa flood of invitations (=a lot of invitations)· He got a flood of invitations to appear on TV and radio shows.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a wedding invitation
- How many invitations did you send out?
- I'm afraid I have to turn down your invitation to dinner.
- Thanks for your invitation. I'd love to come.
- They had come aboard at Charles's invitation.
- Winston gratefully accepted the invitation.
- As she expected, April accepted her invitation.
- In a moment of weakness the President had accepted the invitation.
- This embarrassed her more, for what could she tell him to explain her neglect of his invitations?
- This is a little more expensive than a normal invitation but it is less likely that it will get lost.
- Well, can we go and ask him for an invitation?
- When pressure was put on them for more radical appointments, invitations were mostly too late to make any significant impact.
Longman Language Activatora message inviting someone
also invite especially American a message inviting someone to a party, wedding etc: · Thanks for your invitation. I'd love to come.· How many invitations did you send out?· a wedding invitationinvitation to: · Did you get an invite to Paul's wedding?
to invite someone to ask someone to come to a party, wedding, meal etc. Ask is more informal than invite: · It's going to be a big wedding - they've invited over a hundred people.· "Are you going to Emma's party?" "No, I haven't been asked."· I'd love to come -- thanks for asking me.· It is a great honour to have been invited here tonight.invite/ask somebody to a party/wedding/meal etc: · I was invited to a couple of his dinner parties last year.· Do you think we should ask Carol and Helen to the party?invite/ask somebody for lunch/dinner: · Madeleine has invited us for dinner on Saturday.invite/ask somebody to do something: · Hane's parents have asked me to come and stay with them for a couple of weeks.invite somebody over (=invite someone to your house for a meal, party etc): · It won't be a big do, we're just inviting a few close friends over.invite/ask somebody in (=invite a visitor into your home): · He invited me in for a coffee.
when someone is invited to a party, wedding, meal etc: at somebody's invitation: · They had come aboard at Charles's invitation.turn down an invitation (=not accept it): · I'm afraid I have to turn down your invitation to dinner.accept an/somebody's invitation: · Winston gratefully accepted the invitation.
to ask someone to go to a restaurant, a film etc with you because you want to start a romantic relationship with them: · Why don't you ask her out? Or are you too shy?· You asked her out? What did she say?
if you have someone over , they come to your home to have a meal or to spend time with you because you have invited them: · My father is having some colleagues over from the University tonight.· I want to have Danielle over to play with me.have somebody over for drinks/dinner etc: · We had Nick's parents over for dinner on Saturday.
to invite someone to go somewhere with you and a group of other people: · Do you mind if I invite one of my friends along?· Whose idea was it to ask Danni along?
to provide a meal or social activity for someone in your home, either because they are your friends, or because they are people you work with: · This is an easy but impressive dish if you are entertaining at home.· About a fifth of their income is spent on entertaining clients.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Meanings 1, 2 & 3verbs Mary declined Jay’s invitation to dinner. The Headteacher has extended an invitation to the prime minister to visit the school. Ms Jarvis is unable to accept your kind invitation. Rob took up the invitation to visit.
· Did you get an invitation to Janet's party?
· The following week, I had an invitation to give a talk in Cambridge.
· She accepted his invitation to dinner.
(=accept someone's invitation)· I decided to take them up on their invitation to dinner.
(also decline an invitation formal)· She turned down an invitation to take part in a televised debate.
(also issue/extend an invitation formal)· He has issued an invitation to the Chinese president to come to Washington.
· We sent out the invitations last week.
· I'll have to write a letter thanking Martha for the invitation to her wedding.
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + invitation· He had a wedding invitation from Rob and Jen.
· Fred's wife has accepted the dinner invitation.
· The president received a formal invitation to visit Nigeria.
· Each parent was sent a personal invitation for the school's open day.
· It gives me great pleasure to accept your kind invitation.
· We received a special invitation to attend a reception at the embassy.
(=an invitation to do something at any time you like)· Phillip kindly gave me an open invitation to stay at his villa in Tuscany.
(=an invitation which someone has had for a long time)· He had accepted a long-standing invitation to address the conference.
invitation + NOUN (=a card with an invitation printed on it)· Everyone entering will have to show an invitation card.
phrases (=a lot of invitations)· He got a flood of invitations to appear on TV and radio shows.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· Are you going to accept their invitation to the wedding?
Mary declined Jay’s invitation to dinner. The Headteacher has extended an invitation to the prime minister to visit the school. (=said when thanking someone very politely for their invitation or offer)
Ms Jarvis is unable to accept your kind invitation. (=permission to visit someone whenever you like)
Rob took up the invitation to visit.· They had already sent out all the wedding invitations.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· The four shortlisted groups will now get formal invitations within the next few weeks to participate in the consultation phase.· Two of the Volunteers attended, even though they had not received the customary formal invitations.· Do you know they send out formal invitations, like at your wedding or Bar Mitzvah, to state executions?
· Even by accepting Laura Danby's kind invitation, Meredith's own fiercely maintained independence could be said to have been undermined.
· I extend to the hon. Gentleman an open invitation to join me on any subsequent occasion.· The wizards designing Macintosh considered it an open invitation to childlike play, and judged that ability among its chief attributes.· The mines were dangerous, the mines were not to be left open as an invitation to any foolhardy visitor.· Is there an open invitation to abuse even in some of the innocent parts?· The latter is not an open invitation to intervention or a threat to sovereignty.· The Carter team feared that the remark and the attitude it conveyed would be an open invitation to execute Kim.· In my opinion, a skip should be regarded as an open invitation to selective plundering.· An open invitation was also agreed for any District Council representative to join meetings.
NOUN· Assuming that Fred's wife has accepted the dinner invitation, have they made a contract? 2.· Although she had rejected his dinner invitation, somehow he had come out of the scene the victor.· To his surprise, Eleanor was not bowled over by the dinner invitation.· One anxious socialite complained that five of her dinner invitations had been cancelled.
· BBut for a birth announcement or party invitation, it makes for a wonderfully elegant presentation.· Those cute little programs that make party invitations for the kids can chew up 40 or 50 megs.· Send the party invitations out on a card shaped in the number of the birthday child's age.
· A sign warning trespassers printed in the copper-plate script normally reserved for wedding invitations would inhibit nobody.· However the first indication your guests will receive as to your plans, is when their wedding invitation arrives.
VERB· Assuming that Fred's wife has accepted the dinner invitation, have they made a contract? 2.· In another part of his letter Yevtushenko had confirmed that Bulat Okudzhava would be accepting my invitation.· Two hundred of them accepted the invitation, ending their visit with tea and scones in the school hall.· He wanted her to accept the Hamiltons' invitation.· And she had all morning and part of the afternoon to decide whether or not to accept this imperious invitation.· Not surprisingly, the two parties were the only ones to accept each other's invitations.· The unexpected break, hard on the heels of her disaster with Giles, had nudged her into accepting Clive's invitation.· She'd felt quite frightened and hadn't accepted the invitation.
· The question of an invitation to Gorbachev to attend the G-7 meeting was also raised at these meetings.· The letter was an invitation to attend the conference as an observer.
· He declined three or four invitations to parties.· Oh, she was tired and had taken to declining All invitations to feasts Due to the confusion Between cowboys and priests.· There won't be any Labour representation at the dinner, because the town's Mayor has now declined his invitation.· As he declined the invitation it is unnecessary to consider further what would have been the effect of such a joinder.· Neil Kinnock has again declined an invitation to brief the media's industry hacks at the Labour party conference.· I declined the invitation the only thoughts in my head were finding my bed to soothe away the aches and pains.· John Betjeman and Ted Hughes had both declined my invitation to do this.
· I extend an invitation to the Minister to visit the community.· Q: Will you extend a special invitation to them?· Consideration should be given to extending an invitation to those on the mailing list.· My wife will extend the invitation to the Carsons.
· The policeman then asked for a lift, followed by an invitation to dinner.· As Madame Delon had predicted, her enquiry met with a cordial response followed by an unexpected invitation to lunch.· Once you have got a favourable response, you follow through with an invitation to a social event.
· Our holidays all include a special invitation to join us for coffee at our Saturday morning welcome party.
· Once you have issued the invitation it is important to make sure that the photographers will be able to do their job.· It was unclear who issued the invitation to Wynn.· It will, however, be trespass if she had no authority to issue that invitation.· She sent Talivaldis to the store for a large loaf of Wonder Bread and knocked on doors, issuing invitations.· Nigel decided to leave things a few weeks then issue an invitation to dinner.· To draw attention to the hospitality provided at his inn Freeth issued printed invitation cards, written in verse.
· Our holidays all include a special invitation to join us for coffee at our Saturday morning welcome party.· No offer of financial help, no kind invitations to join them in club activities were forthcoming from Charles.· I extend to the hon. Gentleman an open invitation to join me on any subsequent occasion.
· Miranda's heart had looped the loop as she happily accepted an invitation to lunch at Rules, his favourite restaurant.· As Madame Delon had predicted, her enquiry met with a cordial response followed by an unexpected invitation to lunch.
· Suchocka was reported to have refused an invitation to meet the strikers.· The invitation to meet the oldest reptile in the world drew the major world Press.
· Everyone will either sympathize with your terrible squint or think that you are offering some form of invitation.· In offering the invitation, Clinton waved off cautionary signals from within his administration.· They also offer a mail order invitation service.
· Every club in the country should be receiving an invitation to enter.· The list includes such information as Social Security numbers, and how often a person has received White House social invitations.· He won the Championship in September 1991, but received his invitation only a couple of months ago.· Two of the Volunteers attended, even though they had not received the customary formal invitations.· Since taking office, you have received many invitations to similar events hosted by the Conservative and Reform movements.· He accepted and asked another member of the staff, who had received a similar invitation, to accompany him.· Edgar Linton entered, his handsome face full of delight at receiving Catherine's unexpected invitation.· At the end of two months she received no invitation to live at any of their houses.
· Suchocka was reported to have refused an invitation to meet the strikers.· It reminded her of why she had started refusing most invitations to date a long time ago.· He rose and made his farewells, politely refusing Benedicta's invitation to stay longer.· Indeed, he has refused invitations to do so.· Who could refuse such an invitation, knowing that this would be the trip of a lifetime.· After politely refusing her many invitations to stay longer, we headed off.
· Although she had rejected his dinner invitation, somehow he had come out of the scene the victor.· Habash rejected the invitation, as well as the election.· Following a meeting on June 15, however, the parties issued a joint statement rejecting the President's invitation.· Daley was so confident nothing could happen in Chicago that he rudely rejected the invitation from Washington.· Once Shamir had rejected this invitation, Peres entered into intensive negotiations in an attempt to achieve a majority.· He routinely rejects invitations to speak at fund-raising events.· He has rejected invitations to appear on national talk shows and has limited his out-of-state speaking engagements.
· Reluctantly, and after much soul-searching, they decided to respond to Lvov's invitation.· Do respond quickly to this invitation as there's not much time left!
· The church sends an invitation to any who do not belong to a particular church, but would like to join in.· With sadness Heather sent the second invitation to Miss Poole.· Specialist magazines are frequently overlooked when sending out releases or invitations to press receptions.· He gets married without sending you an invitation. 3.· Do you know they send out formal invitations, like at your wedding or Bar Mitzvah, to state executions?
· He routinely rejects invitations to speak at fund-raising events.· Requests for interviews, invitations to speak to students, and opportunities to write articles for magazines poured in.
· The Tams, both 83, have turned down repeated invitations from their three sons in the United States to join them.· That is, under no circumstances must I mention to anyone that I have turned down an invitation to return to Blighty.· Eulah Mae turned the invitation over in her mind.· So turn an invitation into a wonderful treat and enjoy it!· You turn down invitations to anything off-beat.
· Robert Fraser wanted to take up the invitation to visit my studio.
· It is revealing how generously the artists to whom the college wrote responded to the invitation.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
- Leaving the car unlocked is just an open invitation to thieves.
- The Carter team feared that the remark and the attitude it conveyed would be an open invitation to execute Kim.
- An unlocked car is an open invitation to thieves.
- I extend to the hon. Gentleman an open invitation to join me on any subsequent occasion.
- If a thief steals it, you could be giving him an open invitation to your home!
- In my opinion, a skip should be regarded as an open invitation to selective plundering.
- Is there an open invitation to abuse even in some of the innocent parts?
- It would also have been an open invitation to civic disturbance.
- The Carter team feared that the remark and the attitude it conveyed would be an open invitation to execute Kim.
- The latter is not an open invitation to intervention or a threat to sovereignty.
- The wizards designing Macintosh considered it an open invitation to childlike play, and judged that ability among its chief attributes.
WORD FAMILYnouninvitationinviteadjectiveuninvitedinviting ≠ uninvitingverbinviteadverbinvitingly
1[countable] a written or spoken request to someone, inviting them to go somewhere or do somethingan invitation to do something an invitation to speak at a scientific conferenceinvitation to Roger never turns down an invitation to dinner.2[uncountable] the act of being invited or of inviting someone to go somewhere or do somethingby invitation Attendance at the seminars is by invitation only (=only those people who have been invited can attend). They were always dropping by, usually without invitation.at somebody’s invitation/at the invitation of somebody Kegl traveled to Nicaragua at the invitation of the Education Minister.3[countable] a card inviting someone to attend a party, wedding etcparty/wedding invitation We sent out more than 300 wedding invitations.invitation to Did you get an invitation to Jason’s party?4[singular, uncountable] encouragement to do somethingtake something as an invitation to do something He seemed to take my silence as an invitation to talk.5be an open invitation for/to somebody to make it very easy for someone to rob you or harm you: Leaving the car unlocked is just an open invitation to thieves.COLLOCATIONS– Meanings 1, 2 & 3verbsget/receive an invitation· Did you get an invitation to Janet's party?have an invitation· The following week, I had an invitation to give a talk in Cambridge.accept an invitation· She accepted his invitation to dinner.take up somebody's invitation/take somebody up on their invitation (=accept someone's invitation)· I decided to take them up on their invitation to dinner.refuse/turn down an invitation (also decline an invitation formal)· She turned down an invitation to take part in a televised debate.give somebody an invitation (also issue/extend an invitation formal)· He has issued an invitation to the Chinese president to come to Washington.send (somebody) an invitation· We sent out the invitations last week.thank somebody for an invitation· I'll have to write a letter thanking Martha for the invitation to her wedding.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + invitationa party/wedding invitation· He had a wedding invitation from Rob and Jen.a dinner/lunch invitation· Fred's wife has accepted the dinner invitation.a formal/official invitation· The president received a formal invitation to visit Nigeria.a personal invitation· Each parent was sent a personal invitation for the school's open day.somebody's kind invitation· It gives me great pleasure to accept your kind invitation.a special invitation· We received a special invitation to attend a reception at the embassy.an open/standing invitation (=an invitation to do something at any time you like)· Phillip kindly gave me an open invitation to stay at his villa in Tuscany.a long-standing invitation (=an invitation which someone has had for a long time)· He had accepted a long-standing invitation to address the conference.invitation + NOUNan invitation card (=a card with an invitation printed on it)· Everyone entering will have to show an invitation card.phrasesa flood of invitations (=a lot of invitations)· He got a flood of invitations to appear on TV and radio shows.- rowing machine
- Rowling, J.K. (Joanne)
- rowlock
- Rowntree Mackintosh
- royal
- Royal Academy
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- Royal Air Force
- Royal Albert Hall
- Royal and Ancient
- Royal Ascot
- Royal Ballet
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- royal blue
- Royal British Legion
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- Royal College of Music
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- Royal Commission
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- Royal Enclosure
- Royal Festival Hall
- royal flush