enlist

verb

en·​list in-ˈlist How to pronounce enlist (audio)
en-
enlisted; enlisting; enlists

transitive verb

1
a
: to secure the support and aid of : employ in advancing an interest
enlist all the available resources
enlisted our help
b
: to win over : attract
trying to enlist my sympathies
2
: to engage (a person) for duty in the armed forces

intransitive verb

1
: to enroll oneself in the armed forces
will enlist for three years
2
: to participate heartily (as in a cause, drive, or crusade)
enlistee
in-ˌli-ˈstē How to pronounce enlist (audio)
en-
-ˈli-stē
noun
enlistment noun

Examples of enlist in a Sentence

They're enlisting volunteers for an experiment. We enlisted all available resources. I enlisted the help of our neighbors. We enlisted the services of a professional. They enlisted several new recruits. After graduating, I enlisted in the navy. He enlisted in the cause of world peace.
Recent Examples on the Web Instead of enlisting in a branch of the country’s military, Suga will instead spend the next 21 months working as a social service agent. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 12 Mar. 2024 Rebuilding a Lost Waterfront: An heiress to the L.L. Bean fortune and a fan of the arts, Linda Bean has enlisted the artist Jamie Wyeth to help undo the damage of a fire in Port Clyde. Dave Philipps, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 To meet quotas, authorities also use coercive methods such as conducting raids on factories, dormitories, and even restaurants looking for men to enlist, and pressuring immigrants and inmates. Dara Massicot, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2024 Styles is not directly tied to the film, however, the movie did enlist some of his previous songwriters. Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024 Who will pay for all of this and how local Palestinians will be enlisted to perpetuate Israel’s control is not explained. Thomas L. Friedman, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2024 Last December, Big Hit shared that BTS’ final four band members — RM, Jimin, V and Jung Kook — are beginning their military enlistment process, following Jin, J-Hope and Suga, who are already enlisted. Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 3 Mar. 2024 Hatchett enlisted her mother as partner and moved to Maryland in October. Zoe Glasser, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 After Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago, thousands of sympathetic volunteers — largely from the West and post-Soviet states — enlisted under Kyiv’s banner. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enlist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of enlist was in 1599

Dictionary Entries Near enlist

Cite this Entry

“Enlist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enlist. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

enlist

verb
en·​list in-ˈlist How to pronounce enlist (audio)
1
a
: to enroll for military or naval service
especially : to join one of the armed services voluntarily
b
: to participate heartily (as in a cause or drive)
2
: to obtain the help or support of
enlisted their friends in the campaign
enlistment noun

More from Merriam-Webster on enlist

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