inviting

1 of 2

adjective

in·​vit·​ing in-ˈvī-tiŋ How to pronounce inviting (audio)
Synonyms of invitingnext
: attractive, tempting
invitingly adverb

inviting

2 of 2

present participle of invite entry 1

Examples of inviting in a Sentence

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.
Adjective
Her gaze gives both scenes an inviting intimacy, like the audience has a front-row seat to Alice letting her guard down. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026 Updating dinnerware reflects evolving trends and helps create a more inviting, contemporary dining experience. — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 30 Aug. 2026 Fresh, white pillowcases can make your bed feel more inviting and luxurious, but yellow stains can appear even with regular washing. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 30 Aug. 2026 Out front, two mature sycamore trees frame the house in almost perfect symmetry, reinforcing the sense that 901 Sonoma Way is both composed and inviting. — David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inviting

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1604, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inviting was in 1604

Rhymes for inviting

See All Rhymes for inviting

Browse Nearby Words

inviter
inviting
invitress
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inviting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inviting. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

inviting

adjective
in·​vit·​ing
in-ˈvīt-iŋ
: attractive, tempting
an inviting prospect
invitingly
-iŋ-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on inviting

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for inviting

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All