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)
Synonyms
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
Israel is being urged by Western allies to de-escalate, as fears grow of an all-out regional war – a scenario Washington has sought to enlist Beijing’s help to avoid.
—
Nectar Gan, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
The band isn’t above some nonsense, enlisting Paris Hilton and an Abraham Lincoln impersonator to games of Cornhole with fool’s gold for the crowd on the line.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2024
For its part, Paramount is high on Scott and has enlisted him to direct an upcoming Bee Gees biopic.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
The union is not trying to stop actors from cashing in on their AI avatars, who could be enlisted for everything from selling mortgages to giving Zoom therapy.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024
Andrew Postal, a sophomore from Andover, Mass., brought fellow rugby players to the frozen pond, while Caitlin Kincaid, a senior from Colorado Springs, Colo., enlisted 10 members of the Colby Woodsmen Team, skilled in sawing wood and swinging axes.
—Jenna Russell Tristan Spinski, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Project leaders are free to contract with outsiders to assist – enlisting some of the world’s best minds for edgy research with specific goals.
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
To achieve Ramona’s lush, orchestral sound, Wilson and Cummings enlisted harpist Mary Lattimore, as well as arranger and multi-instrumentalist Drew Erickson, who has played with Weyes Blood, Mitski, and Lana Del Rey.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 5 Apr. 2024
When Fedotov tried to leave Russia, he was detained on allegations of avoiding his duty to serve in the Russian military and forced to enlist.
—Elissa Harwood, NPR, 3 Apr. 2024
Nectar Gan, CNN, 15 Apr. 2024
The band isn’t above some nonsense, enlisting Paris Hilton and an Abraham Lincoln impersonator to games of Cornhole with fool’s gold for the crowd on the line.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 14 Apr. 2024
For its part, Paramount is high on Scott and has enlisted him to direct an upcoming Bee Gees biopic.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
The union is not trying to stop actors from cashing in on their AI avatars, who could be enlisted for everything from selling mortgages to giving Zoom therapy.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024
Andrew Postal, a sophomore from Andover, Mass., brought fellow rugby players to the frozen pond, while Caitlin Kincaid, a senior from Colorado Springs, Colo., enlisted 10 members of the Colby Woodsmen Team, skilled in sawing wood and swinging axes.
—Jenna Russell Tristan Spinski, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024
Project leaders are free to contract with outsiders to assist – enlisting some of the world’s best minds for edgy research with specific goals.
—Steven Levy, WIRED, 5 Apr. 2024
To achieve Ramona’s lush, orchestral sound, Wilson and Cummings enlisted harpist Mary Lattimore, as well as arranger and multi-instrumentalist Drew Erickson, who has played with Weyes Blood, Mitski, and Lana Del Rey.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 5 Apr. 2024
When Fedotov tried to leave Russia, he was detained on allegations of avoiding his duty to serve in the Russian military and forced to enlist.
—Elissa Harwood, NPR, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enlist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near enlist
Cite this Entry
“Enlist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enlist. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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
Share