To invite means to ask someone to come to an event, join an activity, or be part of something. When you invite a friend to your birthday party, you're asking them to celebrate with you. When a teacher invites questions after a lesson, she's welcoming students to ask what they're wondering about.

An invitation is the actual request itself, whether spoken, written, or sent digitally. You might receive an invitation to a wedding in the mail, or your teammate might give you a quick verbal invitation to shoot hoops after school.

Inviting someone shows you value their company and want them included. When someone invites you somewhere, they're saying, “I want you there.” That's why receiving an invitation often feels good, and why not being invited can sting.

The word can also describe making something seem welcoming or appealing. A cozy reading nook with soft pillows looks inviting. A difficult math problem might invite careful thinking. When something is inviting, it draws you toward it, almost as if it's asking you to come closer or engage with it.