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
After the win, Allie enlists Dean’s help to get Garrett to Hannah’s musical showcase, hoping to broker a reconciliation between the estranged couple.
—
Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Get with the Golden Knights’ owner, Bill Foley, who wants to add an NBA team in Vegas and who has reportedly enlisted the help of Magic Johnson, the Lakers’ Hall of Fame legend.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Merrill feared a flop until Lamont enlisted Francisco Borges, the former state treasurer, to lead a fundraising effort.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
Edward Niland, 31, the eldest of four brothers from upstate New York who had all enlisted, parachuted out of his B-25 when it was shot down on this day over Burma, his unit assumed he’d been killed.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for enlist
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Get with the Golden Knights’ owner, Bill Foley, who wants to add an NBA team in Vegas and who has reportedly enlisted the help of Magic Johnson, the Lakers’ Hall of Fame legend.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Merrill feared a flop until Lamont enlisted Francisco Borges, the former state treasurer, to lead a fundraising effort.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 14 May 2026
Edward Niland, 31, the eldest of four brothers from upstate New York who had all enlisted, parachuted out of his B-25 when it was shot down on this day over Burma, his unit assumed he’d been killed.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 May 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 19 May. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
