invite
/ɪnˈvaɪt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To ask someone to come to an event, place, or activity. It can also mean asking someone to join in something. It is often used for meetings, parties, meals, and formal occasions.
- They invited us to their wedding.
- I invited her to lunch.
- He invited me to join the team.
noun
An invitation, especially one for a social event. In informal English, people sometimes say invite for this meaning.
- Did you get the invite?
- She sent me a party invite.
- The invite arrived by email.
Adinary Nuance
Invite is the general word for asking someone to come or take part. It is broader than ask, which is more general, and more direct than request, which sounds more formal. In business or polite writing, invite can feel warmer and less stiff than request.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- mời
- Spanish
- invitar
- Chinese
- 邀请
- Japanese
- 招待する
- Korean
- 초대하다
Etymology
Invite comes from Latin invitare, meaning 'to call in' or 'to urge'. It entered English through Old French in the Middle Ages.
Common phrases
invite someone to dinnerinvite someone to joinsend an inviteby invitation
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is invite more formal than ask?
- Usually, yes. Invite is often used for events, meals, meetings, and social situations.
- What is the difference between invite and invitation?
- Invite is usually a verb. Invitation is the noun for the message or request to come.
- Can I say 'invite to'?
- Yes. Say 'invite someone to' plus an event or activity: 'invite her to dinner'.
- Is invite a common business word?
- Yes, especially in phrases like 'invite you to attend' or 'invite feedback'.