invest
1 of 2verb (1)
in·vest in-ˈvest 
invested; investing; invests
transitive verb
1
: to commit (money) in order to earn a financial return
2
: to make use of for future benefits or advantages
invested her time wisely
3
: to involve or engage especially emotionally
were deeply invested in their children's lives
intransitive verb
: to make an investment
investable
in-ˈve-stə-bəl
adjective investor
in-ˈve-stər
noun invest
2 of 2verb (2)
invested; investing; invests
transitive verb
1
[Medieval Latin investire, from Latin, to clothe]
a
: to array in the symbols of office or honor
b
: to furnish with power or authority
c
: to grant someone control or authority over : vest
2
: to endow with a quality : infuse
3
: to cover completely : envelop
4
: clothe, adorn
5
[Middle French investir, from Old Italian investire, from Latin, to surround] : to surround with troops or ships so as to prevent escape or entry
Synonyms
Verb (2)
- endue
- indue
- imbue
- inculcate
- infuse
- ingrain
- engrain
- inoculate
- steep
- suffuse
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Bryce Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2022 She’s sticking with cyber security stocks and companies that invest in cloud services like Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft and Google parent Alphabet Inc., while steering clear of struggling social-media firms like Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. Fortune, 28 Aug. 2022 The CHIPS Act meanwhile contains more than $52 billion in grants and other incentives for the semiconductor industry, as well as a 25% tax credit for those companies that invest in chip plants in the U.S. Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 25 Aug. 2022 If your bathroom towels are starting to get thin, now's a great time to invest in a set of fluffy towels backed by tens of thousands of Amazon shoppers. Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 25 Aug. 2022 This is a common misconception among small business owners, especially those who don’t have the time or money to invest in a new site. Vu Hoang, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 Companies that invest in semiconductor manufacturing will also get a 25% tax credit. Rishi Iyengar, CNN, 9 Aug. 2022 The bill provides more than $52 billion in grants and other incentives for the semiconductor industry as well as a 25% tax credit for those companies that invest in chip plants in the U.S. Editors, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2022 The time to invest in these sure-to-be staple shoes is now, because more than 60 pairs of Veja sneakers are currently marked down at Rue La La — including the brand's popular Campo and Esplar styles, the latter of which Middleton has worn. Claire Harmeyer, PEOPLE.com, 29 July 2022 See More
Verb
Now is the time for homeowners to invest in the sustainability of their home—and even make other upgrades that improve the overall condition and comfortability—and get money back through rebates or tax credits. Bryce Jones, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Sep. 2022 She’s sticking with cyber security stocks and companies that invest in cloud services like Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft and Google parent Alphabet Inc., while steering clear of struggling social-media firms like Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc. Fortune, 28 Aug. 2022 The CHIPS Act meanwhile contains more than $52 billion in grants and other incentives for the semiconductor industry, as well as a 25% tax credit for those companies that invest in chip plants in the U.S. Andrew J. Tobias, cleveland, 25 Aug. 2022 If your bathroom towels are starting to get thin, now's a great time to invest in a set of fluffy towels backed by tens of thousands of Amazon shoppers. Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 25 Aug. 2022 This is a common misconception among small business owners, especially those who don’t have the time or money to invest in a new site. Vu Hoang, Forbes, 18 Aug. 2022 Companies that invest in semiconductor manufacturing will also get a 25% tax credit. Rishi Iyengar, CNN, 9 Aug. 2022 The bill provides more than $52 billion in grants and other incentives for the semiconductor industry as well as a 25% tax credit for those companies that invest in chip plants in the U.S. Editors, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2022 The time to invest in these sure-to-be staple shoes is now, because more than 60 pairs of Veja sneakers are currently marked down at Rue La La — including the brand's popular Campo and Esplar styles, the latter of which Middleton has worn. Claire Harmeyer, PEOPLE.com, 29 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb (1)
Italian investire to clothe, invest money, from Latin, to clothe
Verb (2)
Latin investire to clothe, surround, from in- + vestis garment — more at wear
First Known Use
Verb (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Verb (2)
1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing invest
Kids Definition
invest 1 of 2
verb
in·vest in-ˈvest
invested; investing
: to give power or authority to
invest
2 of 2verb
invested; investing
1
: to put out money in order to gain profit
She invested in a business.
2
: to put out (as effort) in support of a usually worthy cause
We invested time in the project.
Medical Definition
invest
transitive verb
in·vest in-ˈvest
1
: to envelop or cover completely
the pleura invests the lung
2
: to endow with a quality or characteristic
the paranoid personality who invests the external world with his … ideas and feelings Structure & Meaning of Psychoanalysis
Structure & Meaning of Psychoanalysis Legal Definition
invest 1 of 2
transitive verb
in·vest in-ˈvest
1
: to install in an office or position
2
a
: to furnish with or formally grant power or authority
b
: to grant someone control or authority over : vest
invest
2 of 2verb
transitive verb
1
: to commit (money) in order to earn a financial return
2
: to make use of for future benefits or advantages
intransitive verb
: to commit funds or purchase something of intrinsic value for future gain : make an investment —often used with in
invest
verb
1
as in to suffuse
to cause (as a person) to become filled or saturated with a certain quality or principle invested the film with his own enthusiasm for the wonders of flight Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- suffuse
- infuse
- imbue
- inoculate
- inculcate
- fill
- endue
- flood
- ingrain
- engrain
- steep
- charge
- plant
- indue
- animate
- invigorate
- enliven
- instill
- overwhelm
- drown
- saturate
- submerge
- impregnate
- leaven
- permeate
- inundate
- pervade
- implant
- deluge
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- deprive
- divest
- take (away)
- eliminate
- remove
- strip
- clear
- empty
2
as in to gift
to furnish freely or naturally with some power, quality, or attribute a woman invested with the strong desire to make the world a better place Synonyms & Similar Words
- gift
- endow
- bless
- equip
- provide
- favor
- indue
- endue
- supply
- empower
- enable
- will
- enrich
- grant
- clothe
- enhance
- bequeath
- heighten
- award
- cover
- confer (on)
- bestow (on or upon)
- accord
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- divest
- strip
- drain
- deplete
- exhaust
- dispossess
- skimp
- stint
3
as in to enable
to give official or legal power to invested him with power of attorney Synonyms & Similar Words
- enable
- empower
- authorize
- qualify
- commission
- allow
- license
- certify
- entitle
- warrant
- permit
- accredit
- vest
- approve
- charter
- endorse
- induct
- install
- licence
- initiate
- sanction
- affirm
- let
- validate
- inaugurate
- confirm
- instate
- indorse
- swear in
- privilege
- credential
- okay
- clear
- enfranchise
- OK
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- prevent
- stop
- discourage
- disqualify
- exclude
- hinder
- deny
- constrain
- impede
- inhibit
- disallow
- obstruct
- prohibit
- hold back
- block
- ban
- forbid
- enjoin
- bar
- proscribe
- disenfranchise
- shut out
- disbar
- veto
- outlaw
- disfranchise
- interdict
4
as in to clothe
to outfit with clothes and especially fine or special clothes a fashion designer who has invested a number of the winners of the best actress award Synonyms & Similar Words
- clothe
- dress
- habit
- costume
- attire
- apparel
- toilet
- wrap
- garment
- suit
- gown
- get up
- furnish
- vesture
- garb
- robe
- drape
- array
- bedeck
- equip
- caparison
- enrobe
- dress up
- rig (out)
- tailor
- tog (up or out)
- deck (out)
- jacket
- mantle
- outfit
- uniform
- do up
- frock
- vest
- cloak
- hap
- swaddle
- huddle
- swathe
- dress down
- habilitate
- enswathe
- accoutre
- bedight
- accouter
- underdress
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- strip
- disrobe
- disarray
- undress
- divest
- uncover
- unveil
- denude
- unclothe
- untruss
- undrape
5
as in to induct
to put into an office or welcome into an organization with special ceremonies the beloved actor was finally invested as a knight by the queen Synonyms & Similar Words
- induct
- inaugurate
- install
- initiate
- receive
- instate
- baptize
- seat
- enlist
- consecrate
- enroll
- enshrine
- accept
- enrol
- swear in
- admit
- take in
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- can
- terminate
- fire
- discharge
- muster out
6
as in to besiege
to surround (as a fortified place) with armed forces for the purpose of capturing or preventing commerce and communication the city was mercilessly invested for an entire year, but never fell Synonyms & Similar Words
- besiege
- encircle
- beleaguer
- attack
- blockade
- insulate
- assault
- cut off
- leaguer
- isolate
- lay siege to
- barricade
- confine
- assail
- block
- dam
- quarantine
- beset
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- liberate
- rescue
- release
- free
- emancipate
7
as in to wrap
to surround or cover closely nightfall invested the land Synonyms & Similar Words
- wrap
- enclose
- envelop
- encase
- involve
- shroud
- encompass
- embrace
- embed
- muffle
- bosom
- encircle
- enwrap
- drape
- mantle
- enshroud
- enfold
- cocoon
- embower
- inclose
- bower
- circumfuse
- embosom
- swathe
- lap
- veil
- enswathe
- cloak
- circle
- imbed
- curtain
- disguise
- overlay
- blanket
- swaddle
- camouflage
- mask
- overspread
- enwind
- enlace
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- expose
- strip
- denude
- bare