Word family noun invitation invite adjective uninvited inviting ≠ uninviting verb invite adverb invitingly
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishinvitationin‧vi‧ta‧tion /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/ ●●● S2 noun 1 [countable]INVITE a written or spoken request to someone, inviting them to go somewhere or do somethingan invitation to do something an invitation to speak at a scientific conferenceinvitation to Roger never turns down an invitation to dinner.2 [uncountable] the act of being invited or of inviting someone to go somewhere or do somethingby invitation Attendance at the seminars is by invitation only (=only those people who have been invited can attend). They were always dropping by, usually without invitation.at somebody’s invitation/at the invitation of somebody Kegl traveled to Nicaragua at the invitation of the Education Minister.3 [countable]INVITE a card inviting someone to attend a party, wedding etcparty/wedding invitation We sent out more than 300 wedding invitations.invitation to Did you get an invitation to Jason’s party?4 [singular, uncountable]WANT encouragement to do somethingtake something as an invitation to do something He seemed to take my silence as an invitation to talk.5 → be an open invitation for/to somebodyCOLLOCATIONS – Meanings 1,2 & 3verbsget/receive an invitationDid you get an invitation to Janet's party?have an invitationThe following week, I had an invitation to give a talk in Cambridge. accept an invitationShe accepted his invitation to dinner.take up somebody's invitation/take somebody up on their invitation (=accept someone's invitation)I decided to take them up on their invitation to dinner.refuse/turn down an invitation (also decline an invitation formal)She turned down an invitation to take part in a televised debate.give somebody an invitation (also issue/extend an invitation formal)He has issued an invitation to the Chinese president to come to Washington.send (somebody) an invitationWe sent out the invitations last week.thank somebody for an invitationI'll have to write a letter thanking Martha for the invitation to her wedding.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + invitationa party/wedding invitationHe had a wedding invitation from Rob and Jen.a dinner/lunch invitationFred's wife has accepted the dinner invitation.a formal/official invitationThe president received a formal invitation to visit Nigeria.a personal invitationEach parent was sent a personal invitation for the school's open day.somebody's kind invitationIt gives me great pleasure to accept your kind invitation.a special invitationWe received a special invitation to attend a reception at the embassy.an open/standing invitation (=an invitation to do something at any time you like)Phillip kindly gave me an open invitation to stay at his villa in Tuscany.a long-standing invitation (=an invitation which someone has had for a long time)He had accepted a long-standing invitation to address the conference.invitation + NOUNan invitation card (=a card with an invitation printed on it)Everyone entering will have to show an invitation card.phrasesa flood of invitations (=a lot of invitations)He got a flood of invitations to appear on TV and radio shows. Examples from the Corpus
invitation• Well, can we go and ask him for an invitation?• When pressure was put on them for more radical appointments, invitations were mostly too late to make any significant impact.• As she expected, April accepted her invitation.• This embarrassed her more, for what could she tell him to explain her neglect of his invitations?• How many invitations did you send out?• This is a little more expensive than a normal invitation but it is less likely that it will get lost.• They had come aboard at Charles's invitation.• Winston gratefully accepted the invitation.• In a moment of weakness the President had accepted the invitation.• a wedding invitation• I'm afraid I have to turn down your invitation to dinner.• Thanks for your invitation. I'd love to come.by invitation only• Membership from now on will be by invitation only as existing places become available through natural wastage.• Therefore, participation will be by invitation only.• Attendance at the seminars, which begin in April 1992, is by invitation only.• Attendance at the dinner is by invitation only.• Entering the Kingdom is by invitation only, and that invitation must be given top priority.• The $ 25-per-ticket debut tour, by invitation only, starts at noon at DeFremery Park.• Admission was by invitation only, members including princes and dukes.party/wedding invitation• A sign warning trespassers printed in the copper-plate script normally reserved for wedding invitations would inhibit nobody.• Those cute little programs that make party invitations for the kids can chew up 40 or 50 megs.• BBut for a birth announcement or party invitation, it makes for a wonderfully elegant presentation.• Send the party invitations out on a card shaped in the number of the birthday child's age.• However the first indication your guests will receive as to your plans, is when their wedding invitation arrives.take something as an invitation to do something• The boy took this as an invitation to London.From Longman Business Dictionaryinvitationin‧vi‧ta‧tion /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃən/ noun [countable]1an offer of an opportunity that is made to someoneShe turned down an invitation to serve on the company’s board.2FINANCE invitation to subscribe an occasion when a company offers shares for saleThis document is not a prospectus and does not constitute or form any part of an invitation to subscribe for, underwrite or purchase securities.3invitation to tender (also invitation to bid)COMMERCE an occasion when an organization asks companies to say how much they will charge to perform particular work. The company with the lowest price usually gets the workWe can offer advice on where to find invitations to tender for contracts in Europe. 