invest

/ɪnˈvest/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈvest/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈvest/ (ame, mw)

invest — verb

  • investpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • investshe / she / it
  • investedpast simple
  • investing-ing form

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

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

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.

例句

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]

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • withdraw

    to take money out of an investment

  • divest

    formal, to sell off investments, often for ethical reasons

文法句型

invest + [money] + in + [thing]

invest + in + [thing]

invest + [money]

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

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.

例句

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]

同義詞
  • devote

    more formal, implies strong dedication

  • put into

    more informal, used with effort or energy

  • commit

    emphasises making a serious and lasting dedication

反義詞
  • waste

    to use time or energy without getting a good result

  • squander

    to waste carelessly, often implying the resource was valuable

文法句型

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

invest + in + [thing/activity]

invest + [time/effort] + V-ing

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.動詞及物C1
釋義

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.

例句

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]

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • strip of

    to remove someone's power or title

  • depose

    formal, to remove someone from a high position

文法句型

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

be invested with + [title/quality]

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

用法筆記

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.

常見錯誤

❌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.