Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense invests, present participle investing, past tense, past participle invested
1. verb
If you investin something, or if you invest a sum of money, you use your money in a way that you hope will increase its value, for example by paying it into a bank, or buying shares or property.
They intend to invest directly in shares. [VERB + in]
He invested all our profits in gold shares. [VERB noun + in]
When people buy houses they're investing a lot of money. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: spend, expend, advance, venture More Synonyms of invest
2. verb
When a government or organization investsin something, it gives or lends money for a purpose that it considers useful or profitable.
...the British government's failure to invest in an integrated transport system. [VERB + in]
...the European Investment Bank, which invested £100 million in Canary Wharf. [VERB noun + in]
Why does Japan invest, on average, twice as much capital per worker per year thanthe United States? [VERB noun]
[Also VERB]
3. verb
If you invest in something useful, you buy it, because it will help you to do something more efficiently or more cheaply.
The company invested thousands in an electronic order-control system. [VERB noun + in]
The easiest way to make ice cream yourself is to invest in an ice cream machine. [VERB + in]
4. verb
If you invest time or energy in something, you spend a lot of time or energy on something that you consider to be useful or likely to be successful.
I would rather invest time in Rebecca than in the kitchen. [VERB noun + in]
5. verb [usually passive]
If you say that someone or something is invested with a particular quality, you mean that they seem to have that quality.
[formal]
The buildings are invested with a nation's history. [beV-ed with n]
A tsar was a living icon, invested with deep historical and religious significance. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: charge, fill, steep, saturate More Synonyms of invest
6. verb
To invest someone with rights or responsibilities means to give them those rights or responsibilities legally or officially.
[formal]
The constitution had invested him with certain powers. [VERB noun + with]
Synonyms: empower, provide, charge, sanction More Synonyms of invest
More Synonyms of invest
invest in British English
(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. (transitive; often foll byin)
to devote (effort, resources, etc, to a project)
3. (tr; often foll by in or with) mainly archaic
to clothe or adorn (in some garment, esp the robes of an office)
to invest a king in the insignia of an emperor
4. (transitive; often 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. (transitive; foll bywith) usually poetic
to cover or adorn, as if with a coat or garment
when spring invests the trees with leaves
8. (transitive) rare
to surround with military forces; besiege
9. (intransitive; foll byin) informal
to purchase; buy
Derived forms
investable (inˈvestable) or investible (inˈvestible)
adjective
investor (inˈvestor)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Medieval Latin investīre to clothe, from Latin, from vestīre, from vestis a garment
invest in American English
(ɪnˈvɛst)
verb transitive
1.
to clothe; array; adorn
2.
a.
to cover, surround, or envelop like, or as if with, a garment
fog invests the city
b.
to endow with qualities, attributes, etc.
3.
to install in office with ceremony
4.
to furnish with power, privilege, or authority
5. Rare
to vest or settle (a power or right) in a person, legislative body, etc.
6.
to put (money) into business, real estate, stocks, bonds, etc. for the purpose of obtaining an income or profit
7.
to spend (time, effort, etc.) with the expectation of some satisfaction
8. Military
to hem in or besiege (a town, port, enemy, etc.)
verb intransitive
9.
to invest money; make an investment
Derived forms
investor (inˈvestor)
noun
Word origin
L investire < in-, in + vestire, to clothe < vestis, clothing: see vest
invest in Finance
(ɪnvɛst)
Word forms: (present) invests, (past) invested, (perfect) invested, (progressive) investing
verb
(Finance: Investment)
If you invest your money, you put it into a business or a bank, to try to make a profit from it.
He invested millions of dollars in the business.
The total invested in hedge funds of every variety was about $1.3 trillion.
If you invest your money, you put it into a business or a bank, to try to make a profit from it.
investment, investment
Examples of 'invest' in a sentence
invest
To move forward as a business and be able to invest and buy better players.
The Sun (2016)
Businesses are calling on the government to invest in universal childcare.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So how do get the most value for the money we invest?
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
Yet many energy companies have invested heavily in installing meters in thousands of homes.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is selling assets to free up money to invest.
The Sun (2016)
Those high in this need invest more time in relationships and report more positive reactions when being around people.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You feel that you're investing in a government scheme.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The focus should be on providing farms of all sizes with the capital to invest in more productive equipment and training to use it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Forestry Environmental scams have been big business because many people like the idea of investing in something that is good.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This has intensified calls for the government to invest more in safe cycle routes.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We have a lot of money invested in concrete.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This means that the overall incentive for companies to invest in energy efficiency measures will be reduced.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They want to see the best return on their invested capital.
Geoffrey A. Moore LIVING ON THE FAULT LINE, REVISED EDITION (2002)
Would it not more be rational to invest in something with a more certain return?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
YOU'RE going to have to invest some serious time on this one.
The Sun (2011)
Their security was invested in his government.
Christianity Today (2000)
There has been a lot of money invested so there is huge expectation.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The process of offsetting usually means investing in clean energy or environmental projects.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They invested their capital and lived off the interest.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But we have a hard time investing time to do that planning.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But government needs to invest in training for horticulture and schools could do much more.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He invested money in a business set up to help young musicians.
The Sun (2014)
The return on the capital invested is simply the profit as a proportion of the initial outlay.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
Think about investing in something that will last.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Both arguments promote taking the time to invest in homegrown skills and services.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Businesses are cautious about investing and government spending is cut.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
People could be nervous to invest in buy to let when it is subject to such a changing landscape.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
British athletes have unquestionably benefited from the fact that few other nations invest public money as heavily or systematically.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We offer some tips, from investing to buying your holiday money.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
People will buy houses, invest for their future or just go shopping.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The second is where to invest your energy - reinforcing the strengths or defeating the weaknesses.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
invest
British English: invest /ɪnˈvɛst/ VERB
If you invest in something, or if you invest a sum of money, you use your money in a way that you hope will increase its value, for example by buying shares or property.
They intend to invest directly in shares.
He wants advice on how to invest the money.
American English: invest
Arabic: يَسْتَثْمِرُ
Brazilian Portuguese: investir
Chinese: 投资
Croatian: ulagati
Czech: investovat
Danish: investere
Dutch: investeren
European Spanish: invertir dinero
Finnish: sijoittaa
French: investir
German: investieren
Greek: επενδύω
Italian: investire
Japanese: 投資する
Korean: 투자하다
Norwegian: investere
Polish: zainwestować
European Portuguese: investir
Romanian: a investi
Russian: инвестировать
Latin American Spanish: invertir emplear
Swedish: investera
Thai: ลงทุน
Turkish: yatırım yapmak
Ukrainian: інвестувати
Vietnamese: đầu tư
Chinese translation of 'invest'
invest
(ɪnˈvɛst)
vt
[money]投资(資) (tóuzī)
[time, energy]投入 (tóurù)
vi
invest in (Comm) 投资(資)于(於) (tóuzī yú) (fig)[product, system]购(購)买(買) (gòumǎi)
to invest sb with rights/responsibilities (frm) 授予某人权(權)利/责(責)任 (shòuyǔ mǒurén quánlì/zérèn)
by the powers invested in me (frm) 根据(據)授予我的权(權)力 (gēnjù shòuyǔ wǒ de quánlì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to devote (time or effort to a project)
When people buy houses they're investing a lot of money.
Synonyms
spend
They have spent £23m on new players.
expend
the amount of money expended on this project so far
advance
venture
put in
devote
lay out
sink in
use up
plough in
2 (verb)
Definition
to credit or provide (a person with qualities)
The buildings are invested with a nations's history.
Synonyms
charge
a performance that was charged with energy
fill
The barn was filled with the smell of hay.
steep
saturate
If the filter has been saturated with motor oil, discard it.
endow
Herbs have been used for centuries to endow a whole range of foods with subtle flavours.
pervade
the corruption that pervades every stratum of society
infuse
A strange spirit infused the place.
imbue
He is able to imbue his listeners with enthusiasm.
suffuse
A dull red flash suffused Selby's face.
endue
3 (verb)
Definition
to give power or authority to
The constitution had invested him with certain powers.
Synonyms
empower
The trustees of the museum are empowered to sell items from its collection.
provide
charge
sanction
He may seem ready to sanction the use of force.
license
the council can license a U.S. company to produce the drug
authorize
They authorized him to use force if necessary.
vest
4 (verb)
Definition
to install someone (in an official position)
He was invested as a paramount chief of a district tribe.
Synonyms
install
A new Catholic bishop was installed yesterday.
establish
They established the school in 1989.
ordain
Her brother had been ordained as a priest.
crown
He had himself crowned as Emperor.
inaugurate
The new president will be inaugurated on January 20.
anoint
consecrate
adopt
induct
Six new members have been inducted into the Cabinet.
enthrone
instate
5 (verb)
Synonyms
besiege
The main part of the army moved to besiege the town.
surround
When the car stopped it was surrounded by police and militiamen.
enclose
The land was enclosed by an eight-foot wire fence.
beset
lay siege to
beleaguer
6 (verb)
(archaic)
Synonyms
clothe
He was clothed in a dashing scarlet and black uniform.
dress
advice on how to dress a Christmas tree
deck
The house was decked with flowers.
array
a priest arrayed in white vestments
robe
drape
He draped himself in the flag.
bedeck
Flags bedeck the balcony.
bedizen (archaic)
phrasal verb
See invest in something
Additional synonyms
in the sense of array
Definition
to dress in rich clothing
a priest arrayed in white vestments
Synonyms
dress,
supply,
clothe,
wrap,
deck,
outfit,
decorate,
equip,
robe,
get ready,
adorn,
apparel (archaic),
festoon,
attire,
fit out,
garb,
bedeck,
caparison,
accoutre
in the sense of authorize
Definition
to give authority to
They authorized him to use force if necessary.
Synonyms
empower,
commission,
enable,
entitle,
mandate,
accredit,
give authority to
in the sense of bedeck
Definition
to cover with decorations
Flags bedeck the balcony.
Synonyms
decorate,
grace,
trim,
array,
enrich,
adorn,
garnish,
ornament,
embellish,
festoon,
beautify,
bedight (archaic),
bedizen (archaic),
engarland
Synonyms of 'invest'
invest
Explore 'invest' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of crown
Definition
to put a crown on the head of (someone) to proclaim him or her monarch
He had himself crowned as Emperor.
Synonyms
install,
invest,
honour,
dignify,
ordain,
inaugurate
in the sense of deck
The house was decked with flowers.
Synonyms
decorate,
dress,
trim,
clothe,
grace,
array,
garland,
adorn,
ornament,
embellish,
apparel (archaic),
festoon,
attire,
bedeck,
beautify,
bedight (archaic),
bedizen (archaic),
engarland
in the sense of drape
Definition
to cover with material or fabric
He draped himself in the flag.
Synonyms
cover,
wrap,
fold,
array,
adorn,
cloak,
shroud,
swathe,
envelop,
festoon,
bedeck,
enfold
in the sense of dress
Definition
to put a finish on (the surface of stone, metal, or other building material)
advice on how to dress a Christmas tree
Synonyms
decorate,
deck,
adorn,
trim,
array,
drape,
ornament,
embellish,
festoon,
bedeck,
furbish,
rig out
in the sense of enclose
Definition
to surround completely
The land was enclosed by an eight-foot wire fence.
Synonyms
surround,
cover,
circle,
bound,
wrap,
fence,
pound,
pen,
hedge,
confine,
close in,
encompass,
wall in,
encircle,
encase,
fence in,
impound,
circumscribe,
hem in,
shut in,
environ
in the sense of endow
Herbs have been used for centuries to endow a whole range of foods with subtle flavours.
Synonyms
imbue,
steep,
bathe,
saturate,
pervade,
instil,
infuse,
permeate,
impregnate,
inculcate
in the sense of endue
Synonyms
provide,
supply,
fill,
invest,
furnish,
endow
in the sense of establish
Definition
to create or set up (an organization, link, etc.)
They established the school in 1989.
Synonyms
set up,
found,
start,
create,
institute,
organize,
install,
constitute,
inaugurate
in the sense of expend
Definition
to spend or use up (time, energy, or money)
the amount of money expended on this project so far
Synonyms
spend,
pay out,
lay out (informal),
fork out (slang),
shell out,
disburse
in the sense of fill
The barn was filled with the smell of hay.
Synonyms
saturate,
charge,
pervade,
permeate,
imbue,
impregnate,
suffuse,
overspread
Additional synonyms
in the sense of imbue
Definition
to fill or inspire (with ideals or principles)
He is able to imbue his listeners with enthusiasm.
Synonyms
instil,
infuse,
steep,
bathe,
saturate,
pervade,
permeate,
impregnate,
inculcate
in the sense of inaugurate
Definition
to formally establish (a new leader) in office
The new president will be inaugurated on January 20.
Synonyms
invest,
install,
induct,
instate
in the sense of induct
Definition
to initiate in knowledge of (a group or profession)
Six new members have been inducted into the Cabinet.
Synonyms
install,
admit,
introduce,
allow,
swear,
initiate,
inaugurate,
invest
in the sense of infuse
Definition
to fill with (an emotion or quality)
A strange spirit infused the place.
Synonyms
fill,
charge,
inspire,
pervade,
inundate,
imbue,
suffuse
in the sense of license
Definition
to give permission to or for
the council can license a U.S. company to produce the drug
Synonyms
permit,
commission,
enable,
sanction,
allow,
entitle,
warrant,
authorize,
empower,
certify,
accredit,
give a blank cheque to
in the sense of ordain
Definition
to make (someone) a member of the clergy
Her brother had been ordained as a priest.
Synonyms
appoint,
call,
name,
commission,
select,
elect,
invest,
install,
nominate,
anoint,
consecrate,
frock
in the sense of pervade
Definition
to spread through or throughout (something)
the corruption that pervades every stratum of society
Synonyms
spread through,
fill,
affect,
penetrate,
infuse,
permeate,
imbue,
suffuse,
percolate,
extend through,
diffuse through,
overspread
in the sense of sanction
Definition
to officially approve of or allow
He may seem ready to sanction the use of force.
Synonyms
permit,
back,
support,
allow,
approve,
entitle,
endorse,
authorize,
countenance,
vouch for,
lend your name to
in the sense of saturate
Definition
to soak completely
If the filter has been saturated with motor oil, discard it.
Synonyms
soak,
steep,
drench,
seep,
imbue,
douse,
impregnate,
suffuse,
ret,
wet through,
waterlog,
souse,
drouk (Scottish)
in the sense of suffuse
Definition
to spread through or over (something)
A dull red flash suffused Selby's face.
Synonyms
spread through or over,
flood,
infuse,
cover,
steep,
bathe,
mantle,
pervade,
permeate,
imbue,
overspread,
transfuse (literary)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of surround
When the car stopped it was surrounded by police and militiamen.