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.

Related Words

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

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 In addition to having received a wild-card entry for the singles draw at Wimbledon, Williams will partner with Venus, her older sister, for doubles through an invitation. — Amina Kilpatrick, NBC news, 30 June 2026 The warm exchange underscored the friendly bond between the royal family and the superstar couple, making the possibility of a wedding invitation all the more intriguing for royal watchers. — Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 Smith said West Florida even declined an invitation to attend the First Continental Congress in 1774. — Hank Tester, CBS News, 1 July 2026 To enter, eligible individuals must have an active UATL Supporter subscription and must receive the Giveaway email invitation directly from Sponsor. — AJC.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for invitation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invitation
  1. invite
  2. encouragement
  3. incentive
  4. impetus
  5. occasion
Noun
  • But, to ensure you're asked back or find yourself with guests who are eager for a repeat invite, certain etiquette rules should be in play.
    — Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
  • Celebrities who reportedly received an invite to the nuptials include Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, Zoë Kravitz, Ed Sheeran, and the Haim sisters (Alana, Danielle, and Este).
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026
Definition of invite
Noun
  • Once all but deserted, the town experienced a revival in 1965, when artists and musicians began to flock there after encouragement from the Yugoslav government.
    — Tia Lovisa Moreira, Travel + Leisure, 2 July 2026
  • Alexandria government roasted for absurd anti-fireworks tweet The government of Alexandria tweeted Wednesday a blunt warning about fireworks — and encouragement to snitch on your neighbors.
    — David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of encouragement
Noun
  • Nearly a year after the expiration of a $7,500 federal tax incentive for new electric vehicles, California is stepping in to try to motivate buyers to go electric.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • The attack shocked Monaco, a coastal playground for the rich and famous known for its tax-friendly incentives, royal family and Formula 1 Grand Prix.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of incentive
Noun
  • Whether the impetus is to satisfy a desire for seclusion or to achieve the investment benefits that development allows, these three properties, triangulated across the globe, open up new frontiers and ways of living.
    — Nielsen Dinwoodie, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • Not much separated these two teams over 90 minutes, with limited attacking impetus and much of the game being played in midfield.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of impetus
Noun
  • For the special occasion, Stone dazzled in what appeared to be either a strapless or a one-shoulder gown, per a photo obtained by E!
    — Robyn Merrett, InStyle, 5 July 2026
  • Next up is a mouthwatering quarterfinal against Naomi Osaka, a Wimbledon occasion that will hopefully be worth the wait.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of occasion

Browse Nearby Words

invisibly
invitation
invitations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Invitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invitation. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on invitation

Nglish: Translation of invitation for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All