invest

To put money into something because you hope it will earn more money.

• I want to invest some money.
• She invested her savings in a local company.
• Would you invest in property overseas?

How to use it: invest in something (She decided to invest in a small business.); invest something in something (He invested his savings in shares.)

Common phrases: invest in shares, invest money, invest in property, invest capital

To spend time, money, or effort on something to improve it or gain a benefit.

• We need to invest in training.
• He invested months of work in the project.
• The city invested money in safer roads.

How to use it: invest something in something (They invested considerable effort in improving the service.); invest in something (The council plans to invest in better public transport.)

Similar words: put into, devote

Common phrases: invest time, invest in education, invest effort

To officially give someone a particular power, position, or authority.

• The law invests the council with new powers.
• The ceremony invested her with royal authority.
• Who can invest the committee with the power to act?

How to use it: invest someone with something (The constitution invests the president with certain powers.)

Similar words: empower, vest

Common phrases: invest someone with authority, invest someone with power

To make someone or something seem to have a particular quality.

• The silence invested the room with mystery.
• Her calm voice invested her words with authority.
• Time had invested the old house with a special charm.

How to use it: invest someone/something with something (The lighting invested the room with an air of mystery.)

Similar words: imbue, endow

Common phrases: invest something with meaning, invest someone with dignity

To surround a town or fort with armed forces to force it to surrender.

• The army prepared to invest the town.
• Enemy troops invested the fortress before dawn.
• The general lacked enough soldiers to invest the entire city.

Similar words: besiege, lay siege to

Common phrases: invest a town, invest a fortress