embark

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verb em·bark \im-ˈbärk\

Definition of embark

intransitive verb
1 : to go on board a vehicle for transportation the troops embarked at noon
2 : to make a start embarked on a new career
transitive verb
1 : to cause to go on board (a boat, an airplane, etc.)
2 : to engage, enlist, or invest in an enterprise

embarkation

play \ˌem-ˌbär-ˈkā-shən, -bər-\ noun

embarkment

play \im-ˈbärk-mənt\ noun

See embark defined for English-language learners

See embark defined for kids

Examples of embark in a Sentence

The troops are waiting to embark.
Millions of Europeans embarked for America in the late 19th century.

Recent Examples of embark from the Web

After the flight fell through, the four ballplayers piled into an Uber at 2:55 a.m. and embarked on the seven-hour journey from Phoenix to Albuquerque to make the Rainiers’ game against the Isotopes that day.

— sean quinton, The Seattle Times, "Mariners minor-leaguers’ flight fell through … so they took a 7-hour Uber ride to ballpark," 19 July 2017
And Myanmar, after years of isolation and repression, embarked on an unexpected transition to democracy.

— The Economist, "More money, less freedomSouth-East Asia’s future looks prosperous but illiberal," 18 July 2017
Of course, former Auburn star Cam Newton didn't really embark on his fashion journeys until getting to the NFL.

— mark heim, AL.com, "Virginia Tech's Cam Phillips' outfit steals show at ACC Kickoff," 14 July 2017
Between releasing Lemonade, embarking on the Formation World Tour, and headlining the 2016 Super Bowl halftime show, Beyoncé was pretty busy last year.

— andrea park, Teen Vogue, "Beyoncé Named Highest-Earning Artist of 2016," 14 July 2017
Dandong city is the main crossing point to North Korea, and every day hundreds of tourists embark on small boats for a cruise on the Yalu border river and a fleeting glimpse of another world.

— bill powell, MSNBC Newsweek, "Will Trump Stop the 10 Chinese Companies Supplying North Korea's Nuclear Program?," 13 July 2017
President Barack Obama would embark on an extended annual visit to Martha’s Vineyard.

— Washington Post, "Washington braces for a long, hot summer slog of politics," 13 July 2017
Still, the decision to reduce the Fed’s holdings came across as a sign of optimism for an economic recovery embarking on its ninth year.

— josh boak, The Seattle Times, "Fed debating when to unwind $4.5 trillion in bond holdings," 5 July 2017
Cage Dive clearly did not watch Mandy Moore in 47 Meters Down before deciding to embark on yet another shark cage diving experience on the big screen.

— peggy truong, Cosmopolitan, "The New Open Water 3 Trailer Will Ruin Your Favorite Childhood Song Forever," 30 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'embark.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of embark

Middle French embarquer, from Old Occitan embarcar, from em- (from Latin in-) + barca bark

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1533

See Words from the same year

EMBARK Defined for English Language Learners

embark

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verb

Definition of embark for English Language Learners

: to begin a journey especially on a ship or airplane

EMBARK Defined for Kids

embark

play

verb em·bark \im-ˈbärk\

Definition of embark for Students

embarked

;

embarking

1 : to go on or put on board a ship or an airplane The last of the passengers embarked.
2 : to begin a project or task She embarked on a new career.