invitation

noun

Definition of invitationnext
1
as in invite
a request for the presence or participation of someone at a specified time and place She called to ask if we had received her wedding invitation.

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2
as in encouragement
something that arouses action or activity He took the layoff as an invitation to embark on a new career path.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of invitation Ferlinghetti’s friendship with Jack Kerouac — and his invitations to escape the Bay Area for the solitude of the Big Sur coast — tied the poet and the novelist to the same stretch of rugged landscape that still draws tourists and artists today. — David Caraccio updated July 13, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2026 The Rays right-hander celebrated his first All-Star invitation on Friday night with a typically efficient five-plus-inning outing in a 7-2 Tampa Bay victory over Seattle. — John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2026 Newspapers piled in front of a house are like an invitation to an open house. — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 13 July 2026 Despite its name, invitations to the Royal Box are coordinated by Wimbledon officials, not the British royal family, and the space is used to entertain friends and guests of the prestigious tournament. — Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for invitation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invitation
  1. invite
  2. encouragement
  3. incentive
  4. impetus
  5. occasion
Noun
  • The right connection could change everything, so don’t flake on the invite.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026
  • Campbell tried to be a sponge after receiving the invite to Johnson’s gym.
    — Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 26 July 2026
Definition of invite
Noun
  • Al Ahli, who are set to lose their manager Matthias Jaissle to Newcastle United, had shortlisted Slot as a potential replacement, but are unlikely to receive any encouragement.
    — Gregg Evans, New York Times, 31 July 2026
  • But his avuncular encouragement of Tony in what could be absolute folly brings real heart to this section — until calamity intrudes.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026
Definition of encouragement
Noun
  • Their movements are tracked, conversations are restricted, decisions are tightly controlled, and accomplishments are rewarded with superficial incentives.
    — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Some lawmakers are calling for the incentive to be scaled back or eliminated altogether.
    — S.E. Jenkins, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of incentive
Noun
  • The impetus for restructuring Part D was the lack of a cap on patient out-of-pocket costs for prescription medicines.
    — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The missing piece Hellerstein had been working on putting together the museum’s Ebbets Field room for about seven years, but Judy’s death was the impetus for completing the project.
    — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 30 July 2026
Definition of impetus
Noun
  • To mark the occasion, Dean brought out Fender as a surprise guest during her headlining set on T-Mobile stage on Saturday to perform their hit.
    — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Barrientos went on to explain that aguardiente (guaro is how it’s referred to in Colombia) was traditionally consumed during these celebrations—and on plenty of other occasions, too—as a shot.
    — Brian Freedman, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of occasion

Browse Nearby Words

invisibly
invitation
invitations
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Cite this Entry

“Invitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invitation. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on invitation

Nglish: Translation of invitation for Spanish Speakers

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