Invest Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

1

:

to use money to earn more money

:

to use your money to purchase stock in a company, to buy property, etc., in order to make future profit

[no object]

• She has always invested conservatively/aggressively.

— often + in

• He made a fortune by investing in real estate.

[+ object]

• She invested her inheritance money.
• invested money

— often + in

• He invested his savings in the business.

2

a

:

to spend (money) on building or improving something

— usually + in

[+ object]

• The city will invest millions of dollars in two new schools.

[no object]

• The city plans to invest heavily in its educational system this year.

b

[+ object]

:

to give your time or effort in order to do something or make something better

— usually + in

• A lot of effort was invested in the project.
• We need to invest more time in educating our children.
• (chiefly US) She is deeply invested in this project [=she has given a lot of time and effort to this project and cares about it very much] and wants it to succeed.

3

[+ object]

formal

:

to provide (someone or something) with (something)

• The United States Constitution invests the President with certain powers. [=gives certain powers to the President]
• The emperor claimed to be invested with power by the gods.
• The promotion invested her with confidence. [=made her confident]