1put (money) into financial schemes, shares, property, or a commercial venture with the expectation of achieving a profit:the company is to invest £12 m in its manufacturing site at Linlithglow [no object]:getting workers to invest in private pension funds
devote (one’s time, effort, or energy) to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result:we have invested a considerable amount of time in demonstrating the value of the system
[no object] (invest in) informal buy (a relatively expensive product) whose usefulness will repay the cost:I invested in an expensive moisturizer and tried to drink more water
2 (invest someone/thing with) provide or endow someone or something with (a particular quality or attribute):the passage of time has invested the words with an unintended humour
formally confer a rank or office on (someone):he was invested as Head of State on 1 October 1936
(invest something in) confer a right or power on (someone or something):all executive powers were invested in the Secretary of State
3 archaic clothe or cover with a garment:he stands before you invested in the full canonicals of his calling
4 archaic surround (a place) in order to besiege or blockade it:Fort Pulaski was invested and captured
