# invest

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɪnˈvɛst/ · frequency rank #4,167

## Definitions
1. To spend money, time, or energy on something, especially for some benefit or purpose; used with in.
2. To clothe or wrap (with garments).
3. To put on (clothing).
4. To envelop, wrap, cover.
5. To commit money or capital in the hope of financial gain.
6. To ceremonially install someone in some office.
7. To formally give (someone) some power or authority.
8. To formally give (power or authority).
9. To surround, accompany, or attend.
10. To lay siege to.
11. To make investments.
12. To prepare for lost wax casting by creating an investment mold (a mixture of a silica sand and plaster).
13. To cause to be involved in; to cause to form strong attachments to.
14. To inaugurate the Prime Minister of Spain after a successful parliamentary vote.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French investir or Medieval Latin investire, from Latin investio (“to clothe, cover”), from in- (“in, on”) + vestio (“to clothe, dress”), from vestis (“clothing”); see vest. The sense “to spend money etc.” probably via Italian investire, of the same root.

## Easily confused with
- **Ives** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/invest-vs-ives)
- **invested** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/invest-vs-invested)
- **investor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/invest-vs-investor)
- **inlet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inlet-vs-invest)
- **inept** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inept-vs-invest)
- **inert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inert-vs-invest)
- **inset** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inset-vs-invest)
- **intent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/intent-vs-invest)
- **insist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/insist-vs-invest)
- **insert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/insert-vs-invest)
- **insect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/insect-vs-invest)
- **invent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/invent-vs-invest)
- **inject** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inject-vs-invest)
- **incest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/incest-vs-invest)
- **infect** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/infect-vs-invest)
- **ingest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ingest-vs-invest)
- **invert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/invert-vs-invest)
- **inverse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inverse-vs-invest)
- **inquest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/inquest-vs-invest)

## Common misspellings (9)
`inevst`, `innvest`, `invesst`, `investt`, `invets`, `invset`, `invvest`, `ivnest`, `nivest`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/invest