What term describes the act of giving money to someone with the expectation that it will be repaid?

The term that accurately describes the act of giving money to someone with the expectation that it will be repaid is "loan." When a loan is made, the lender provides a specific amount of money to the borrower with an agreement that the borrower will return the funds, usually with interest, over a predetermined period. This arrangement differs fundamentally from the other options.

A gift involves giving money or items without any expectation of repayment; the recipient is not obligated to return what they received. A grant refers to funds given for a specific purpose, often by government entities or organizations, also without the expectation of repayment. An investment entails providing capital with the expectation of generating a return, but it does not necessarily guarantee repayment of the principal amount like a loan does. Thus, the essence of a loan is the mutual agreement around repayment, establishing it clearly as the correct description for the act mentioned in the question.