invite
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to request the presence or participation of in a kindly, courteous, or complimentary way, especially to request to come or go to some place, gathering, entertainment, etc., or to do something.
to invite friends to dinner.
- Synonyms:
- bid
-
to request politely or formally.
to invite donations.
- Synonyms:
- solicit
-
to act so as to bring on or render probable.
to invite accidents by fast driving.
-
to call forth or give occasion for.
Those big shoes invite laughter.
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to attract, allure, entice, or tempt.
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
-
to ask (a person or persons) in a friendly or polite way (to do something, attend an event, etc)
he invited them to dinner
-
to make a request for, esp publicly or formally
to invite applications
-
to bring on or provoke; give occasion for
you invite disaster by your actions
-
to welcome or tempt
noun
Related Words
See call.
Other Word Forms
- invitee noun
- inviter noun
- invitor noun
- preinvite verb (used with object)
- quasi-invited adjective
- reinvite verb
- self-invited adjective
- uninvited adjective
Etymology
Origin of invite
First recorded in 1525–35, invite is from the Latin word invītāre
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The decaying structures can invite pests and become a blight.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026
"Because we suspect this ability may be more widespread than currently documented," Osuna-Mascaró says, "we invite readers who have observed cows or bulls using sticks or other handheld objects for purposeful actions to contact us."
From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026
Nevertheless, the announcement went on to invite fans to “grab their favorite Cinnabon pairing” and watch both shows.
From Salon • Mar. 20, 2026
"She is exactly the sort of person we would like to work for haart estate agents and we are contacting her to invite her for an interview."
From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026
“You should invite her to move out, too. That way she would feel more involved. Like you’re including her.”
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
