enclose

verb

en·​close in-ˈklōz 

en-

variants or less commonly inclose

in-ˈklōz 

enclosed also inclosed; enclosing also inclosing; encloses also incloses

transitive verb

1

a(1)

: to close in : surround

enclose a porch with glass

(2)

: to fence off (common land) for individual use

b

: to hold in : confine

2

: to include along with something else in a parcel or envelope

a check is enclosed herewith

Synonyms of enclose

• house
• encase
• confine
• include
• surround
• envelop

Examples of enclose in a Sentence

The pie's flaky crust encloses a fruit filling.

Enclose the fish in foil and bake.

She enclosed a photo with the card.

Please enclose a check with your application.

Enclosed with this letter are the tickets you ordered.

Recent Examples on the Web

With funding from the Dia Art Foundation, Judd purchased them in 1979 and began his own restoration, replacing the garage doors that enclosed the buildings’ two long sides with a series of continuous windows. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 19 Aug. 2026

For Cusk, freedom involves wriggling out of the social and historical integuments that enclose a person into a bounded self. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026

Archimedes’ screw Traditionally associated with Archimedes and dated to around the third century BCE, this machine moves water through a rotating helical surface enclosed inside a cylinder. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026

At low tide, the retreating ocean leaves behind a natural aquarium enclosed by volcanic rock. — Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, probably from enclos enclosed, from Anglo-French, past participle of enclore to enclose, from Vulgar Latin *inclaudere, alteration of Latin includere — more at include

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Rhymes for enclose

• aloes
• arose
• bestows
• boroughs
• buboes
• cargoes
• cocos
• compos
• compose
• crossbows
• demos
• depose

Kids Definition

enclose

verb

en·​close

variants also inclose

in-ˈklōz

1

a

: to close in : surround

enclose a porch with glass

b

: to hold in : confine

enclose animals in a pen

2

: to place in a parcel or envelope

enclose a card with the present