Meaning of invitation In English

• 0 the act of inviting someone to go to an event:

  • Thanks for the invitation to your birthday party.

  • I'm happy to accept your invitation.

  • The first day of the exhibition will be by invitation (only) (= only those who have been invited can come).

• 1 an action that causes or encourages something to happen:

  • Leaving your house unlocked is an open (= clear) invitation to burglars.

• 2 an occasion when someone is formally asked to do something:

  • [ + to infinitive ] This is a once in a lifetime invitation to invest in your dream home in the sun.

• 3 a piece of paper or card that invites someone to an event:

  • I need to order the wedding invitations.

• 4 a written or spoken request to come somewhere or do something, or the act of inviting someone:

  • We received their wedding invitation today.

  • He accepted the invitation to join the committee.

• 5 something that could cause something else to happen or that could cause someone to do something:

  • Leaving your house unlocked is an open invitation to burglars (= encourages them).

• 6 if someone receives an invitation, they are asked to go somewhere or do something:

  • an invitation to sth I received an invitation to dinner at a colleague's house.

  • an invitation to do sth He accepted the invitation to attend the seminar.

  • decline/turn down/reject an invitation

• 7 a formal request to do something, for example, have an interview for a job:

  • an invitation to do sth He rarely turns down an invitation to speak at a conference.

  • extend/issue an invitation The invitation was extended to other candidates.