include

verb in·clude \ in-ˈklüd \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: include in a Sentence

Definition of include

included; including

transitive verb

1 : to shut up : enclose

2 : to take in or comprise as a part of a whole or group

3 : to contain between or within

two sides and the included angle

—

includable

or includible play \in-ˈklü-də-bəl\ adjective

See include defined for English-language learners

See include defined for kids

Examples of include in a Sentence

The speakers will include several experts on the subject.
The price of dinner includes dessert.
Admission to the museum is included in the tour package.
The results came in too late for us to include them in the study.

Recent Examples of include from the Web

Gaffigan's children include sons Jack, 12, Michael, 7, and Patrick, 6, and daughters Marre, 13, and Katie, 9.

— sonja haller, USA TODAY, "Jim Gaffigan jokes his 5 kids don't exactly love 'special daddy and me time'," 17 June 2018
These include Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, which purchased the land and building that houses MEAC for approximately $250,000 in 2014.

— laura a. hobson, Cincinnati.com, "Madisonville assistance center: A home away from home," 17 June 2018
Activities for kids include a bike parade and chalk drawing.

— april orcutt, latimes.com, "Here's where you'll find maximum fun for your Fourth of July celebrations," 17 June 2018
Rebecca Coder, 49, senior vice president of National Cooperative Bank in Washington, whose customers include grocery wholesale co-ops, purchasing co-ops, credit unions and housing co-op died May 1 at her home in Washington.

— Washington Post, "Community deaths," 17 June 2018
Two are decorated in dark brown tones that suggest the somber mood of the Civil War; their artifacts include a life mask of Abraham Lincoln and a blue-and-white punch bowl from the Lincoln White House.

— blair kamin, chicagotribune.com, "A wreck no more: $15 million renovation makes Illinois’ once-decrepit Executive Mansion shine again," 16 June 2018
Sag Harbor’s residents include the singer Billy Joel and the former Met Keith Hernandez.

— karen crouse, New York Times, "By Land or by Sea, U.S. Open Golfers Got Creative About Their Lodging," 16 June 2018
Controls include exposure compensation, a bulb flash mode for long exposures, and a multiple-exposure option.

— brendan nystedt, WIRED, "These Instant Film Cameras Prove It's Hip to Be Square," 16 June 2018
The declaration’s backers include the Most Rev. Michael Curry, who dazzled the world with his impassioned sermon during the wedding of Britain’s Prince Harry and former actress Meghan Markle.

— john hilliard, BostonGlobe.com, "New England UCC churches look to organize progressive ‘Christian voice’," 16 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of include

Middle English, from Latin includere, from in- + claudere to close — more at close

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

include Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of include

include, comprehend, embrace, involve mean to contain within as part of the whole. include suggests the containment of something as a constituent, component, or subordinate part of a larger whole.

- the price of dinner includes dessert

comprehend implies that something comes within the scope of a statement or definition.

- his system comprehends all history

embrace implies a gathering of separate items within a whole.

- her faith embraces both Christian and non-Christian beliefs

involve suggests inclusion by virtue of the nature of the whole, whether by being its natural or inevitable consequence.

- the new job involves a lot of detail

INCLUDE Defined for English Language Learners

include

verb

Definition of include for English Language Learners

: to have (someone or something) as part of a group or total : to contain (someone or something) in a group or as a part of something
: to make (someone or something) a part of something

INCLUDE Defined for Kids

include

verb in·clude \ in-ˈklüd \

Definition of include for Students

included; including

: to take in or have as part of a whole

Dinner includes dessert.

Word Root of include

The Latin word claudere, meaning “to close” or “to shut,” gives us the root clud. To exclude is to shut another out of a group. To include is to shut someone into a group. To conclude, or bring something, such as a speech, to an end, is to close it.