enlisted; enlisting; enlists
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
1
: to enroll oneself in the armed forces
will enlist for three years
2
: to participate heartily (as in a cause, drive, or crusade)
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
But before embarking on his career in music, McDonald enlisted in the Navy at age 17.
—
Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
After enlisting tennis and padel champions to its roster of ambassadors last year and opening a padel arena in Milan, the luxury sneakers brand announced Monday the appointment of tennis aces Gabriel Diallo and Dayana Yastremska as global brand ambassadors for 2026.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 9 Mar. 2026
Pennington enlisted that year as a unit supply specialist, and was assigned to the space and missile command on June 10, 2025, the Army said in a release.
—Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
There was another allegation that some jailers enlisted a prisoner to serve as an enforcer and to kind of try to keep the other prisoners in line.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enlist
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Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
After enlisting tennis and padel champions to its roster of ambassadors last year and opening a padel arena in Milan, the luxury sneakers brand announced Monday the appointment of tennis aces Gabriel Diallo and Dayana Yastremska as global brand ambassadors for 2026.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 9 Mar. 2026
Pennington enlisted that year as a unit supply specialist, and was assigned to the space and missile command on June 10, 2025, the Army said in a release.
—Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
There was another allegation that some jailers enlisted a prisoner to serve as an enforcer and to kind of try to keep the other prisoners in line.
—Dana Taylor, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for enlist
Cite this Entry
“Enlist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enlist. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
enlist
verb
en·list
in-ˈlist 
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
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