Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

invite

/ɪnˈvaɪt/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.30 in modern English

Syllables: in-vite
IPA: /ɪnˈvaɪt/

9

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To ask for the presence or participation of someone or something.

Transitive verb

verb

To request formally.

Transitive verb

verb

Transitive verb

verb

To allure; to draw to; to tempt to come; to induce by pleasure or hope; to attract.

Transitive verb

noun

Informal

Example Sentences

"We invited our friends round for dinner."
"A Nimph is marryed to a Fay, Great preparations for the Day, All Rites of Nuptials they recite you, To the Brydall and inuite you."
"I invite you all to be seated."
"I always invite criticism of my essays."
"Wearing that skimpy dress, you are bound to invite attention."
"The refusal to maintain such a navy would invite trouble, and if trouble came would insure disaster."

Etymology

From Middle French inviter, from Latin invītō. Displaced native English lathe.

Origin

Source language: Middle French

Word Breakdown

Root: inviter, invītō

Usage

Inflected Forms

invites (present, singular) inviting (participle, present) invited (participle, past) invited (past) invites (plural)

Derived Forms

disinvite invitable invitement invitro reinvite uninvite

Phrases

e-invite e-vite invited to the cookout

Frequently Paired Words

invitee inviter

Synonyms

ask out ask beseech entreat request ask for encourage provoke lathe

Rhymes With

right might night white light quite fight site non-white write tonight despite

Questions

How do you pronounce invite?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪnˈvaɪt/.
What does invite mean?: To ask for the presence or participation of someone or something.
Where does invite come from?: It is traced to Middle French.

How to pronounce invite

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “invite”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪnˈvaɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “invite”.
Repeat and practice — Say “invite” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.