en·vel·op
in-ˈve-ləp 
en-
enveloped; enveloping; envelops
1
: to enclose or enfold completely with or as if with a covering
2
: to mount an attack on (an enemy's flank)
en·ve·lope
ˈen-və-ˌlōp
ˈän-
ˈän-
1
: a flat usually paper container (as for a letter)
3
a
: the outer covering of an aerostat
b
: the bag containing the gas in a balloon or airship
4
a
: a natural enclosing covering (such as a membrane, shell, or integument)
b
: a lipoprotein unit membrane that forms the outer layer of some virions
5
a
: a curve tangent to each of a family of curves
b
: a surface tangent to each of a family of surfaces
6
: a set of performance limits (as of an aircraft) that may not be safely exceeded
also
: the set of operating parameters that exists within these limits
7
: a conventionally accepted limit
new computers that push the envelope
How do you pronounce envelope?: Usage Guide
The \ˈen-\ and \ˈän-\ pronunciations are used with about equal frequency, and both are fully acceptable, though the \ˈän-\ version is sometimes decried as "pseudo-French." Actually \ˈän-\ is exactly what one would expect to hear when a French word like entrepreneur is becoming anglicized. Envelope, however, has been in English for nearly 300 years, plenty of time for it to become completely anglicized and for both of its pronunciations to win respectability.
Synonyms of envelop
Examples of envelop in a Sentence
Verb
a chronic mistrust of outsiders envelops that neighborhood, cutting it off from the rest of the city
the truth of the presidential assassination is enveloped in a dense fog of myths and conspiracy theories
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026
First off, the firepit gathering space has been enhanced, with vines and the extension of an overhead structure, giving it the feeling of an elevated crown that envelops the contestants.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 June 2026
This time the Audi techs have pushed the Vorsprung durch Technik envelope further, with extra performance and tech even denied to the Lambo… plus that extraordinary carbon-fiber body design.
—New Atlas, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for envelop
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Verb
The gallery will envelop visitors — think rippling blue lights, ocean sounds and activity stations.
—Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026
First off, the firepit gathering space has been enhanced, with vines and the extension of an overhead structure, giving it the feeling of an elevated crown that envelops the contestants.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 1 June 2026
Noun
The aircraft recently completed flight-test campaigns in France and has accumulated more than 100 flight hours as Schiebel continues expanding its operational envelope.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 6 June 2026
This time the Audi techs have pushed the Vorsprung durch Technik envelope further, with extra performance and tech even denied to the Lambo… plus that extraordinary carbon-fiber body design.
—New Atlas, 5 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for envelop
Cite this Entry
“Envelop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/envelop. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
envelop
verb
en·vel·op
in-ˈvel-əp
: to surround and enclose completely with or as if with a covering
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