invest

[ in-vest ]

verb (used with object)

1. to put (money) to use, by purchase or expenditure, in something offering potential profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value.
2. to use (money), as in accumulating something:

   to invest large sums in books.

3. to use, give, or devote (time, talent, etc.), as for a purpose or to achieve something:

   He invested a lot of time in cleaning up the neighborhood after the flood.

4. to furnish with power, authority, rank, etc.:

   The Constitution invests the president with the power of veto.

5. to furnish or endow with a power, right, etc.; vest:

   Feudalism invested the lords with absolute authority over their vassals.

6. to endow with a quality or characteristic:

   to invest a friend with every virtue.

7. to infuse or belong to, as a quality or characteristic:

   Goodness invests his every action.

8. Metallurgy. to surround (a pattern) with an investment.
9. to provide with the insignia of office.
10. to install in an office or position.
11. to clothe, attire, or dress.
12. to cover, adorn, or envelop:

    Spring invests the trees with leaves.

13. to surround (a place) with military forces or works so as to prevent approach or escape; besiege.

verb (used without object)

1. to invest money; make an investment:

   to invest in oil stock.

invest

/ ɪnˈvɛst /

verb

1. often foll by in to lay out (money or capital in an enterprise, esp by purchasing shares) with the expectation of profit
2. troften foll byin to devote (effort, resources, etc, to a project)
3. archaic.
   tr; often foll by in or with to clothe or adorn (in some garment, esp the robes of an office)

   to invest a king in the insignia of an emperor

4. troften foll byin to install formally or ceremoniously (in an official position, rank, etc)
5. tr; foll by in or with to place (power, authority, etc, in) or provide (with power or authority)

   to invest new rights in the monarchy

6. tr; usually passive; foll by in or with to provide or endow (a person with qualities, characteristics, etc)

   he was invested with great common sense

7. poetic.
   trfoll bywith to cover or adorn, as if with a coat or garment

   when spring invests the trees with leaves

8. rare.
   tr to surround with military forces; besiege
9. informal.
   intrfoll byin to purchase; buy

Derived Forms

• inˈvestable, adjective
• inˈvestor, noun

Other Words From

• in·vestor noun
• nonin·vestor noun
• over·in·vest verb
• prein·vest verb (used with object)
• rein·vest verb (used with object)
• under·in·vest verb (used without object)
• under·in·vested adjective
• unin·vested adjective
• well-in·vested adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of invest¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Old Italian investire, from Medieval Latin investīre “to install, invest (money), surround, clothe in,” Latin: “to clothe, deck, adorn,” equivalent to in- prefix + vestīre “to clothe, dress,” derivative of vestis “clothes, garment”; in- ², vest

Word History and Origins

Origin of invest¹

C16: from Medieval Latin investīre to clothe, from Latin, from vestīre, from vestis a garment

Example Sentences

Findlay says SNP ministers have failed to build new prisons, reform community sentencing and invest in technology, such as alcohol monitoring tags used in other parts of the UK.

From BBC

Voters who feel a strong connection to a political party become more invested in its success.

From Los Angeles Times

Williams adds that weed science as a discipline needs to invest in new tools.

From Science Daily

Mahama's parents were able to invest in a diesel generator for their six-bedroom house, meaning theirs was the only house in the town with lights.

From BBC

State officials are responding by doubling staffing and investing millions towards a special task force to remove fentanyl pills, and other illicit opioids, from street sales.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• devote
• lend
• provide
• spend
• supply