involve

play

verb in·volve \ in-ˈvälv , -ˈvȯlv also -ˈväv or -ˈvȯv \

Definition of involve

involved; involving

transitive verb

1 archaic :to enfold or envelop so as to encumber

2 a :to engage as a participant

workers involved in building a house

b :to oblige to take part

right of Congress to involve the nation in war

c :to occupy (someone, such as oneself) absorbingly; especially :to commit (someone) emotionally

was involved with a married man

3 :to surround as if with a wrapping :envelop

4 a archaic :to wind, coil, or wreathe about

b :to relate closely :connect

5 a :to have within or as part of itself :include

b :to require as a necessary accompaniment :entail

c :³affect

the cancer involved the lymph nodes

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involvement

play \in-ˈvälv-mənt, -ˈvȯlv-\ noun

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involver

noun

See involve defined for English-language learners

See involve defined for kids

Examples of involve in a Sentence

He told us a story involving life on a farm.
She remained involved with the organization for many years.
Renovating the house involved hiring a contractor.
The disease continued to spread until it involved the entire jaw.

Recent Examples of involve from the Web

Most blitzes involve Cover 1 (man-to-man with just one high safety).

— andy benoit, SI.com, "Houston Texans: 10 Things You Need to Know," 30 Aug. 2017
Mesh can be implanted to support damaged or weak tissue and treat pelvic floor disorders, which are often a complication from childbirth — but the woman involved in this suit claim that mesh implants left them in debilitating, chronic pain.

— macaela mackenzie, Allure, "Johnson & Johnson Is Facing a Lawsuit from Women Left Unable to Have Sex," 30 Aug. 2017
Chinese access to Americans’ personal data, including Social Security and bank account numbers, has become a particular concern, especially involving individuals with security clearances, the people said.

— david mclaughlin, Bloomberg.com, "Lattice Weighs Seeking Trump’s Intervention on China Deal," 29 Aug. 2017
There are many counties around the country that have only one insurer involved in the Obamacare exchanges.

— jeff rumage, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Grothman talks Trump, Obamacare and border wall at town hall meeting," 29 Aug. 2017
There's a lot of great, simple party games involving a small deck of cards—

— joshua rivera, GQ, "Game of Thrones," 29 Aug. 2017
Members of the editorial and news staff of the USA TODAY Network were not involved in the creation of this content.

— shauna nosler, Indianapolis Star, "Story from Carpenter Realtors: Historical Irvington," 29 Aug. 2017
South Korea also said its air force conducted a live-fire drill involving four F-15 fighter jets dropping eight MK-84 bombs that accurately hit targets at a military field near the country's eastern coast.

— The Christian Science Monitor, "North Korea's unprecedented missile test draws ire of Trump and Abe," 29 Aug. 2017
Everyone else involved in the plot, including the victim, was an FBI agent.

— rafael olmeda, Sun-Sentinel.com, "White supremacist calls murder confessions 'tall tales and legends'," 28 Aug. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of involve

Middle English, to roll up, wrap, from Latin involvere, from in- + volvere to roll — more at voluble

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

involve Synonyms

Synonyms

affect, concern, touch

Antonyms

exclude, leave (out), miss out [British], omit

Related Words

appertain (to), apply (to), bear (on), pertain (to), refer (to), relate (to); embroil, ensnare, entangle, implicate

Near Antonyms

ban, bar, debar, preclude, prevent, prohibit; deny, refuse, reject; eliminate, except, rule out; lose, mislay, misplace

Synonym Discussion of involve

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

INVOLVE Defined for English Language Learners

involve

play

verb

Definition of involve for English Language Learners

: to have or include (someone or something) as a part of something
: to cause (someone) to be included in some activity, situation, etc. : to cause (someone) to take part in something
: to cause (someone) to be associated with someone or something

INVOLVE Defined for Kids

involve

play

verb in·volve \ in-ˈvälv , -ˈvȯlv \

Definition of involve for Students

involved; involving

1 :to draw into a situation :engage

The teacher involved her students in the project.

2 :to take part in

I'm not involved in the planning.

3 :include

The accident involved three cars.

4 :to be accompanied by

The plan involves some risk.

5 :to have or take the attention of completely

He was deeply involved in his work.

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involvement

\-mənt\ noun

Word Root of involve

The Latin word volvere, meaning “to roll” or “to turn around,” gives us the root volv. Words from the Latin volvere have something to do with turning. To revolve is to turn in circles or travel on a circular path. To evolve, or grow or develop out of something else, is to unroll from a source. To involve, or include, is to roll someone into a situation.