Invest
To put money, effort, time, etc. into something to make a profit or get an advantage [Cambridge Dictionary].
To use the money to earn more money: to use your money to purchase stock in a company, to buy property, etc., in order to make a future profit [Britannica Dictionary].
Most people make investment decisions on a daily basis -even if they aren't putting money into assets like stocks or real estate. If a person pays college tuition and attends classes with the hope of gaining knowledge and skills that will benefit them in the future, that person has made a decision to invest in themselves. They are devoting time and money with the goal of gaining new knowledge that will be rewarding – financially or otherwise.
Even putting money in a savings account that pays an interest rate can be thought of as an investment, as you will get a return on the money you have in the account. In most cases, the interest rate will be very small, but it's still investing. Investments that come with the potential for big profits usually come with greater risk. Savings accounts are very safe, so they typically pay a very small interest rate [The Motley Fool].
Invest. Cambridge dictionary. Retrieved from: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/invest
Invest. Britannica Dictionary. Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/invest
Everyday-life examples of investing. The Motley Fool. Retrieved from: https://www.fool.com/investing/how-to-invest/what-does-invest-mean/