An invitation is a written or spoken request to come to an event such as a party, a meal, or a meeting.
...an invitation to lunch. [+ to]
The Syrians have not yet accepted an invitation to attend.
He's understood to be there at the personal invitation of the President. [+ of]
Synonyms: request, call, invite [informal], bidding More Synonyms of invitation
2. countable noun
An invitation is the card or paper on which an invitation is written or printed.
Hundreds of invitations are being sent out this week.
...gold embossed invitation cards.
3. singular noun
If you believe that someone's action is likely to have a particular result, especially a bad one, you can refer to the action as an invitation to that result.
...a war that most liberal Democrats regarded as an invitation to disaster.
Don't leave your shopping on the back seat of your car–it's an open invitation toa thief. [+ to]
Synonyms: inducement, come-on [informal], temptation, challenge More Synonyms of invitation
invitation in British English
(ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən)
noun
1.
a.
the act of inviting, such as an offer of entertainment or hospitality
b.
(as modifier)
an invitation dance
an invitation race
2.
the act of enticing or attracting; allurement
invitation in American English
(ˌɪnvəˈteɪʃən)
noun
1.
an inviting to come somewhere or do something
2.
the message or note used in inviting
3.
enticement or allurement
Word origin
L invitatio < pp. of invitare
Examples of 'invitation' in a sentence
invitation
More than a million people accepted the invitation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is not necessary to have a knighthood to get an invitation but clearly it helps.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So here's an open invitation for him to enjoy it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A comprehensive wishlist would be an open invitation to critics to denounce its contents and deplore what was missing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So here's an open invitation.
The Sun (2016)
Nor can I find any evidence there was an open invitation for the public to attend.
The Sun (2016)
I just wanted access, the backstage passes and the party invitations.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Half accept party invitations, knowing they won't attend.
The Sun (2016)
You had to be fat or foreign to get an invitation to a banquet.
Aldiss, Brian Somewhere East of Life (1994)
This is an open invitation to criminals.
The Sun (2013)
But as soon as we left one house we were offered an irresistible invitation to the next.
Hyland, Paul Indian Balm - Travels in the Southern Subcontinent (1994)
They should inform the board before accepting a dinner invitation.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This invitation is one that we who preach are surely justified in copying.
Christianity Today (2000)
He made a schoolboy error by accepting a lunch invitation from a journalist.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They gave me an invitation to the party.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Why do invitations come in your name and not mine?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This is the poet who once moaned that the sky had grown dark with invitation cards.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I'VE received an invitation for bowel cancer screening.
The Sun (2013)
Sounds like an open invitation for internet trolls to vent their spleen.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
An invitation to lunch on board followed.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Grace decides to avert an international incident through the medium of party invitations and hats.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
China declined an invitation to join.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It was typical of Mishcon that he declined an invitation to attend the signing of the treaty.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
If you demand that, the few invitations you get will surely cease.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
In that situation, your opponents will need no second invitation to offer their views.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So I have to take back the invitation.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In other languages
invitation
British English: invitation /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/ NOUN
An invitation is a written or spoken request to come to an event such as a party or a meeting.
They have not yet accepted an invitation to attend.
American English: invitation
Arabic: دَعْوَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: convite
Chinese: 邀请
Croatian: poziv
Czech: pozvánka
Danish: invitation
Dutch: uitnodiging
European Spanish: invitación
Finnish: kutsu
French: invitation
German: Einladung
Greek: πρόσκληση
Italian: invito
Japanese: 招待
Korean: 초대 손님
Norwegian: invitasjon
Polish: zaproszenie
European Portuguese: convite
Romanian: invitație
Russian: приглашение
Latin American Spanish: invitación
Swedish: inbjudan
Thai: การเชื้อเชิญ
Turkish: davet
Ukrainian: запрошення
Vietnamese: lời mời
Chinese translation of 'invitation'
invitation
(ɪnvɪˈteɪʃən)
n
(c)邀请(請) (yāoqǐng) (个(個), gè)
(c) (= card) 请(請)柬 (qǐngjiǎn) (封, fēng)
an invitation to disaster/crime招致灾(災)难(難)/犯罪的诱(誘)因 (zhāozhì zāinàn/fànzuì de yòuyīn)
by invitation only凭(憑)柬入场(場) (píng jiǎn rùchǎng)
at sb's invitation应(應)某人的邀请(請) (yìng mǒurén de yāoqǐng)
All related terms of 'invitation'
at sb's invitation
应(應)某人的邀请(請) yìng mǒurén de yāoqǐng
by invitation only
凭(憑)柬入场(場) píng jiǎn rùchǎng
a standing invitation
长(長)期有效的邀请(請) chángqī yǒuxiào de yāoqǐng ⇒ Remember that you have a standing invitation to stay with us. → 记住你随时可以来我们这里住。 Jìzhù nǐ suíshí kěyǐ lái wǒmen zhèlǐ zhù.
an invitation to disaster/crime
招致灾(災)难(難)/犯罪的诱(誘)因 zhāozhì zāinàn/fànzuì de yòuyīn
it would be impolite to refuse the invitation
拒绝(絕)邀请(請)将(將)会(會)是没(沒)礼(禮)貌的 jùjué yāoqǐng jiāng huì shì méi lǐmào de
1 (noun)
Definition
a request to attend a dance, meal, etc.
He received an invitation to lunch.
Synonyms
request
They agreed to his request for help.
call
There was a call by the trade unions for members to stay home for the duration of the strike.
invite (informal)
They haven't got an invite to the wedding.
bidding
the bidding of his backbenchers
summons
a summons to the palace
2 (noun)
Don't leave your bag there – it's an invitation to a thief.
Synonyms
inducement
They offer every inducement to encourage investment.
come-on (informal)
temptation
the many temptations to which they will be exposed
challenge
provocation
The soldiers fired without provocation.
open door
overture
incitement
an incitement to rioting
enticement
The cash bonus is an added enticement for the bank's customers.
allurement
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bidding
Definition
an order or command
the bidding of his backbenchers
Synonyms
order,
call,
charge,
demand,
request,
command,
instruction,
invitation,
canon,
beck,
injunction,
summons,
behest,
beck and call
in the sense of call
Definition
a summons or invitation
There was a call by the trade unions for members to stay home for the duration of the strike.
Synonyms
request,
order,
demand,
appeal,
notice,
command,
announcement,
invitation,
plea,
summons,
supplication (formal)
in the sense of enticement
The cash bonus is an added enticement for the bank's customers.
Synonyms
attraction,
appeal,
incentive,
invitation,
lure,
bait,
temptation,
persuasion,
come-on (informal),
coaxing,
seduction,
inducement,
cajolery,
allurement,
inveiglement
Synonyms of 'invitation'
invitation
Explore 'invitation' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of incitement
an incitement to rioting
Synonyms
provocation,
prompting,
encouragement,
spur,
motive,
motivation,
impulse,
stimulus,
impetus,
agitation,
inducement,
goad,
instigation,
clarion call
in the sense of invite
Definition
an invitation
They haven't got an invite to the wedding.
Synonyms
invitation,
call,
request,
bidding,
summons
in the sense of provocation
Definition
the act of provoking or inciting
The soldiers fired without provocation.
Synonyms
cause,
reason,
grounds,
motivation,
justification,
stimulus,
inducement,
incitement,
instigation,
casus belli
in the sense of summons
Definition
a call or an order to attend a specified place at a specified time
a summons to the palace
Synonyms
order,
call,
command,
request,
instruction,
invitation,
directive,
edict,
dictum
in the sense of temptation
Definition
a person or thing that tempts
the many temptations to which they will be exposed