invest

invest someone's time in something

Fig. to put one's time, effort, or energy into a project. Mary invests her time in charity work. I invested five weeks of my time building this model ship.

See also: time

invest someone with something

to endow someone with something, such as power or privilege. The constitution invests the vice president with the authority to act on the president's behalf in certain conditions. The state has invested me with the authority to unite this couple in marriage.

invest something in someone or something 

1. to put money, time, effort, etc., into someone or something, hoping for a return. We will invest time and effort in Fred and make him into a recording star. Sharon invested a lot of money in the stock market.

2. to place power or authority under control of someone or something. The constitution has invested certain powers in the federal government and left the rest to the states. The law invests the power to arrest criminals in the sheriffs department.

invest in someone or something

to put resources into someone or something in hopes of increasing the value of the person or thing. (The emphasis is on the act of investing.) We invested in Tom, and we have every right to expect a lot from him. She invested in junk bonds heavily.