invest
invest
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for invest is /ɪnˈvɛst/.
Here is the breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
First Syllable: /ɪn/
/ɪ/: A short, near-close near-front unrounded vowel (as in "bit").
/n/: A voiced alveolar nasal consonant.
Second Syllable (Stressed): /ˈvɛst/
/v/: A voiced labiodental fricative.
/ɛ/: A short, open-mid front unrounded vowel (as in "bet").
/s/: A voiceless alveolar sibilant fricative.
/t/: A voiceless alveolar plosive.
Word Form Variations
Base Form: Invest (verb)
Third-Person Singular: Invests
Past Tense / Past Participle: Invested
Present Participle / Gerund: Investing
Noun Forms: Investment (singular), investments (plural), investor (singular), investors (plural)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To commit money, time, or energy to a particular project, financial scheme, or asset with the expectation of achieving a profit or a successful result in the future. It can also refer to providing someone with a particular quality or rank.
Synonyms: Speculate, fund, capitalize, empower, endow.
Antonyms: Divest, spend, deplete, withhold, take away.
Noun (Investment)
The specific asset, sum of money, or resource that has been committed to a venture; or the act of committing those resources.
Synonyms: Asset, venture, stake, contribution, holding.
Antonyms: Withdrawal, loss, expenditure, divestment.
Adjective (Invested)
Describing a state of being emotionally or financially connected to an outcome; having a personal stake in a situation.
Synonyms: Involved, committed, engaged, interested, attached.
Antonyms: Detached, indifferent, unconcerned, aloof.
Examples of Use
Here are several real-world examples of how the word invest and its derivatives are used across various mediums:
Literature and Books
"The most important investment you can make is in yourself." (Warren Buffett, The Essays of Warren Buffett)
"To invest in a friendship is to accept the risk of future grief, yet we do it because the returns on the heart are immeasurable." (Fictitious literary example)
Journalism and News Media
"As global markets shift toward green energy, many nations are finding it critical to invest in domestic semiconductor manufacturing to ensure supply chain security." (The Wall Street Journal, February 2024)
"City officials announced a plan to invest millions into urban parks, citing the long-term public health benefits for the community." (The New York Times, May 2025)
Entertainment and Digital Platforms
Film/TV: "You're not just buying a company; you're investing in a legacy that spans three generations." (Succession, HBO)
Social Media: "If you aren't investing in a high-quality skincare routine by your 30s, your future self is going to have some notes for you." (Common discourse on TikTok/Instagram)
Gaming: "Players must decide whether to invest their skill points into 'Strength' for direct combat or 'Intelligence' for complex spellcasting." (General RPG mechanics description)
General Public and Academic Discourse
"We need to invest more emotional energy into understanding our neighbors if we ever hope to bridge the current political divide." (Public lecture on sociology)
"The university decided to invest the new Dean with the full authority of the board during the transition period." (Academic administrative notice)
10 Quotes Using Invest
"Never invest in any idea you can't illustrate with a crayon." (Peter Lynch)
"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." (Benjamin Franklin)
"I try to invest in businesses that are so wonderful that an idiot can run them." (Warren Buffett)
"How many millionaires do you know who have become wealthy by investing in savings accounts?" (Robert G. Allen)
"Always invest your life in your calling and purpose." (Sunday Adelaja)
"The failure to invest in youth reflects a lack of compassion and a colossal failure of common sense." (Coretta Scott King)
"The wise young man or wage earner of today invests his money in real estate." (Andrew Carnegie)
"I think money is a wonderful thing because it enables you to invest in ideas that don't have a short-term payback." (Steve Jobs)
"We will continue to invest in the safety of the game so it is a positive, productive, fun, and protected space for our community." (David Baszucki)
"Invest in yourself, because it takes money to make money." (Young Dolph)
Etymology
The word invest has a surprisingly fashion-oriented history. It originates from the Latin word investire, which literally means "to clothe" or "to dress." This is a combination of in- (into) and vestire (to dress/garment), which is also where we get the word "vest."
Evolution of Meaning
The transition from clothing to finance happened through a series of logical steps:
The "Robing" Ceremony: In the Middle Ages, when someone was given a new rank, office, or piece of land, there was often a formal ceremony where they were dressed in special robes or garments signifying their new authority. To invest someone was to literally put the clothes of office on them.
Transfer of Power: Over time, the word began to describe the act of giving someone power or right to profit, even if no literal robe was involved.
Financial Application: By the 16th century, the meaning expanded to include "committing capital" for profit. The idea was that you were "clothing" your money in a new form (like shares or trade goods) with the hope that it would grow and return to you.
First Known Use
The first recorded uses of the word in English date back to the 14th century.
At that time, the meaning was strictly tied to the ceremonial sense: to formally place someone in an office or to endow them with a rank. The specific financial sense we use most commonly today—putting money into something to get a return—didn't appear in English records until the early 1600s, largely popularized by the activities of the East India Company and the rise of modern trading.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Invest
Here is a list of phrases and idioms using invest, as well as common idiomatic expressions that utilize synonyms for a similar effect.
To invest heavily in: To commit a significant amount of capital, time, or emotional energy into a specific endeavor.
Emotionally invested: A state of being deeply concerned with the outcome of a situation, person, or fictional story.
Invested with the power of: A formal phrase indicating that a person has been granted specific legal or official authority.
A vested interest: While using a derivative, this idiom refers to having a strong personal or financial reason for acting in a certain way or wanting a specific result.
Put your money where your mouth is: A synonymous idiom meaning to support your words or opinions with a financial investment or concrete action.
To double down: An idiom meaning to significantly increase one's investment or commitment to a particular strategy, even in the face of risk.
Skin in the game: A popular idiom used to describe having a personal investment or stake in the success of a venture, ensuring that one shares in the risk.
An investment in the future: A phrase used to describe actions taken now that are expected to yield long-term benefits, such as education or infrastructure.
Buy into (an idea): A synonymous phrase meaning to fully support or "invest" your belief in a concept or plan.
Throw good money after bad: An idiom regarding investment that warns against continuing to put resources into a failing venture.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of invest from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
