embark

verb

em·​bark im-ˈbärk 

embarked; embarking; embarks

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

ˌem-ˌbär-ˈkā-shən 

-bər-

noun

embarkment

im-ˈbärk-mənt 

noun

Synonyms

• begin
• start
• commence
• fall (to)
• enter (into or upon)
• get going
• open
• found

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 on the Web

Some thought the city needed to embark on additional planning for a new tower. —Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025

Blind since birth, McBurney took to the waters last Tuesday to embark on the four day journey once again. —Ramal Nasim updated July 14, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2025

According to Vanity Fair, the Prince and Princess of Wales, now parents of three young children, also enjoy embarking on family trips to Mustique, the Isles of Scilly, the ski resort of Courchevel in France, as well as Jordan, where Kate spent a part of her childhood. —Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025

Around the same time, Camp Mystic was embarking on an expansion project. —Curt Devine, CNN Money, 11 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing embark

• embark on/upon

Rhymes for embark

• ballpark
• benchmark
• birthmark
• daymark
• earmark
• hallmark
• landmark
• monarch
• postmark
• remark
• skylark
• tetrarch

Kids Definition

embark

verb

em·​bark im-ˈbärk 

1

: to go or put on board a ship or airplane

2

: to begin some task or project

embark on a career

embarkation

ˌem-ˌbär-ˈkā-shən 

noun

embarkment

im-ˈbärk-mənt 

noun