invest

1 of 2

verb (1)

in·​vest in-ˈvest How to pronounce invest (audio)
invested; investing; invests
Synonyms of investnext

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 How to pronounce invest (audio)
adjective
investor
in-ˈve-stər How to pronounce invest (audio)
noun

invest

2 of 2

verb (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 of invest

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Verb (2)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of invest in a Sentence

Verb (2) invested the film with his own enthusiasm for the wonders of flight a woman invested with the strong desire to make the world a better place invested him with power of attorney a fashion designer who has invested a number of the winners of the best actress award the beloved actor was finally invested as a knight by the queen the city was mercilessly invested for an entire year, but never fell nightfall invested the land
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Mid-cap companies are also investing more in building new capacity, Nitin Bhasin, head of institutional equities at Ambit Capital, told CNBC. — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026 Chevron is expanding its operations in Venezuela and plans to invest $7 billion over the next five years, eventually expanding production to around 600,000 barrels of oil per day. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026 But in many cases, hotels have invested more time and money in recent years in creating attractive lobbies, fine dining restaurants and exercise facilities. — Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 Still, 16 of the 20 sides in the English top flight invested at least €100million (£86m; $116m) in their squads, highlighting the division’s growing strength in depth. — Thom Harris, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for invest

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of invest was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing invest

Rhymes for invest

See All Rhymes for invest

Browse Nearby Words

in (very) bad/poor taste
invest
investable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Invest.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/invest. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

invest

1 of 2 verb
in·​vest in-ˈvest How to pronounce invest (audio)
1
a
: install sense 1
b
: to furnish with power or authority
2
: to cover completely
3
: clothe sense 1a, adorn
4
: to surround with troops or ships : besiege
5
: to supply with a quality or characteristic

invest

2 of 2 verb
1
: to lay out money so as to return a profit
invest in bonds and real estate
2
: to expend for future benefits or advantages
invest time and effort in a project
3
: to involve or engage especially emotionally
were deeply invested in their children's lives
investor
-ˈves-tər How to pronounce invest (audio)
noun

Medical Definition

invest

transitive verb
in·​vest in-ˈvest How to pronounce invest (audio)
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

Legal Definition

invest

1 of 2 transitive verb
in·​vest in-ˈvest How to pronounce invest (audio)
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 2 verb

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
investor noun
Etymology

Transitive verb

Medieval Latin investire, from Latin, to clothe, from in- in + vestis garment

Verb

Italian investire to clothe, invest money, from Latin, to clothe

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