invest

invest — verb

1. to use money to buy shares, property, or other assets with the hope of earning m

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to use money to buy shares, property, or other assets with the hope of earning more money later, for example buying stock in a company or putting savings into a business.

Example

Ryo invested part of his savings in a small coffee shop near the station.

invest + [money] + in + [business]

The hospital board decided to invest in new equipment for the children's wing.

invest in + [asset/equipment]

Common collocations
  • invest heavily
  • invest wisely
  • invest in stocks
  • invest in property
  • invest in bonds
  • invest in a fund
  • invest capital
  • invest savings
Synonyms
  • put money into

    more informal; no expectation of financial return

  • sink money into

    informal, often implies a risky or unwise investment

  • buy into

    specifically means purchasing shares of a company

Antonyms
  • withdraw

    to take money out of an investment

  • divest

    formal, to sell off investments, often for ethical reasons

Grammar Patterns

invest + [money] + in + [thing]

invest + in + [thing]

invest + [money]

Usage Note

The object of invest is typically money or capital. When the target of the investment is mentioned, it is almost always introduced by in. This sense is also commonly used intransitively: She invests wisely.

Common Mistakes

I invested money to the stock market.
I invested money in the stock market.
After invest, use in (not to) to introduce where the money goes.
He invested on a new house.
He invested in a new house.
The preposition is always in, never on.
I invested my friend $500.
I invested $500 in my friend's business.
The person or business receiving the money must follow in, not appear as a direct object.

2. to spend time, effort, or emotional energy on a person, activity, or goal becaus

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to spend time, effort, or emotional energy on a person, activity, or goal because you believe the result will be worthwhile, for instance learning a language, building a friendship, or training for a skill.

Example

Hari invested three years learning Mandarin before moving to Taipei for work.

invest + [time] + V-ing

The school has invested heavily in training its teachers to use new technology.

invest heavily in + [activity]

Common collocations
  • invest time
  • invest effort
  • invest energy
  • invest emotionally
  • invest heavily
  • invest in a relationship
  • invest in education
  • invest in training
Synonyms
  • devote

    more formal, implies strong dedication

  • put into

    more informal, used with effort or energy

  • commit

    emphasises making a serious and lasting dedication

Antonyms
  • waste

    to use time or energy without getting a good result

  • squander

    to waste carelessly, often implying the resource was valuable

Grammar Patterns

invest + [time/effort] + in + [thing/V-ing]

invest + in + [thing/activity]

invest + [time/effort] + V-ing

Usage Note

The direct object is typically time, effort, energy, emotion, or other non-financial resources. Unlike the financial sense, the person or thing that benefits cannot be the direct object — you invest time in a child, not invest a child with time.

Common Mistakes

I invested three hours to finish the report.
I invested three hours in finishing the report.
Use in + V-ing, not to + infinitive after invest + time.
She invested hard work on the project.
She invested hard work in the project.
The preposition is in, not on.
He invested me with his valuable advice.
He invested time in giving me valuable advice.
A person cannot be the direct object in this sense; the resource is the object.

3. to formally give someone a particular power, right, title, or official position,

3.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to formally give someone a particular power, right, title, or official position, often through a legal or ceremonial process — for example, when a constitution gives a leader the authority to veto laws, or when a ceremony confers a title on someone.

Example

The constitution invests the president with the power to veto new laws.

invest + [person] + with + [power]

Sivan was formally invested with the title of Chief Medical Officer at a ceremony.

passive: be invested with [title/role]

Common collocations
  • invest with authority
  • invest with power
  • invest with responsibility
  • invest with a title
  • invested with meaning
  • formally invested
  • invested by law
Synonyms
  • empower

    less formal; focuses on giving someone the ability to act

  • entrust

    focuses on giving responsibility with trust

  • install

    specifically means placing someone in an official position, often with a ceremony

  • vest

    legal term; to give a right or power that is permanent or unconditional

Antonyms
  • strip of

    to remove someone's power or title

  • depose

    formal, to remove someone from a high position

Grammar Patterns

invest + [person] + with + [power/authority]

be invested with + [title/quality]

invest + [person] + in/into + [office]

Usage Note

Almost always followed by with + the power, authority, or quality being given. The passive construction (be invested with) is very common, especially in formal or legal writing. Unlike senses 1 and 2, the direct object here is the person receiving something, not the resource.

Common Mistakes

The manager invested him with a new computer.
The manager invested him with the authority to approve purchases.
Invest with means giving power or rights, not physical objects.
She invested the title of director to him.
She invested him with the title of director.
Use invest + person + with + title, not invest + title + to + person.
The king invested him as a knight in the ceremony.
The king invested him with the rank of knight in the ceremony.
The formal pattern is invest + person + with + [rank/authority], though invest + person + as + [role] is sometimes used in modern English.
Phrasal verbs

invest in

phrasal verb

To put money or effort into something to get a benefit later.

Maya decided to invest in a new laptop for her studies.

Did your parents invest in that small bakery last year?

invest with

phrasal verb

To give someone or something a particular quality or authority.

The king invested his general with the power to lead the army.

Sara's experience invests her words with great wisdom.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Invest and put money into both mean using money with the expectation of future gain, but put money into is more informal and neutral — it does not necessarily carry the expectation of a financial return; you might put money into a hobby. Speculate means investing in a high-risk way, hoping for a quick or large gain but accepting a strong chance of loss. Trade refers to buying and selling frequently over a short period, focusing on price movements rather than long-term value. For example: 'She invested in a diversified fund for her retirement' suggests a careful, long-term strategy, whereas 'He speculated on cryptocurrency' implies high risk, and 'She traded tech stocks daily' describes active short-term buying and selling.

invest ↗speculate ↗trade ↗put money into

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • invest in the future
  • invest in yourself
  • invest in education

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinItalianEnglish

Invest comes from Latin investire, meaning 'to clothe' — from in- 'into, upon' and vestire 'to clothe' (related to vestis 'garment'). In medieval Latin it took on the sense of 'to install in office' (dressing someone in the robes of an official role). By the early 1600s the word was used for putting money into a business venture, based on the idea of giving one's money a new outward form — the way a person puts on clothes.