enlist

verb

en·list | \ in-ˈlist

, en-\

enlisted; enlisting; enlists

Definition of enlist

1a : 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)

Other Words from enlist More Example Sentences Learn More about enlist

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Other Words from enlist

enlistee \ in-ˌli-ˈstē

, en- , -ˈli-stē \ noun

enlistment \ in-ˈlis(t)-mənt

, en- \ 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

For production duties, she's enlisted a grab bag of producers, but even Mirwais, who helped keep her career going on Music and Confessions on a Dancefloor, can’t rekindle any of those albums’ sense of fun or poppy concision. — Jonny Coleman, The Hollywood Reporter, "Critic's Notebook: Madonna's Cringe-Worthy 'Madame X'," 14 June 2019 While students were enlisted other places, though, some of the city’s most esteemed muralists were engaged to draw much more sure-handed political images—a process that will continue as long as the work is on display. — Roger Catlin, Smithsonian, "This Performance Art Piece Is Being Served Up with Tasty, Warm Bowls of Curry," 13 June 2019 Angela Kelly, the Queen's wardrobe advisor, was then enlisted to create a replica, which has been used ever since. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "Archie Harrison's Christening Is Rumored to Be Happening Later This Summer," 11 June 2019 In the trailer for new film Ad Astra, he's enlisted with exactly that as an astronaut named Roy who must go in search of his missing father somewhere in space. — Kathryn Lindsay, refinery29.com, "Brad Pitt Must Save Human Life As We Know It In Ad Astra Trailer," 6 June 2019 Photographer Christian Oth was charged with capturing every moment and memory (after the bride saw his work on BAZAAR Bride); Caleb Jordan Lee of East West Productions was enlisted with creating the couple’s wedding weekend video. — Tamara Abraham, Harper's BAZAAR, "This Epic Lake Como Wedding Had It All: An Alta Moda Photoshoot, Fireworks, and a Surprise Opera," 11 Apr. 2019 The actors first joined forces in 2011's Just Go With It, which had Sandler playing a plastic surgeon who enlists his assistant (Aniston) to pose as his ex-wife in order to impress a much younger woman (Brooklyn Decker). — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler's New Netflix Movie Looks Like a Riot," 26 Apr. 2019 In recent years, several high profile stories have been published about Israeli citizens who do not enlist as a form of protest against the IDF, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the country's conflict with Palestinians. — Claire Dodson, Teen Vogue, "Taylor Swift Parody Fan Account Creator Says She Submitted Tweets From Inside an Israeli Military Prison," 3 Apr. 2019 Under the regular system, women who enlist in the Marine Corps go to Parris Island for their initial three months of recruit training and are assigned to one battalion. — Lolita C. Baldor, The Seattle Times, "USMC move to integrate boot camp more ends; future unclear," 30 Mar. 2019

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