1
a
: having a part in something : included in something
unable to identify those who were involved
She was involved in a lawsuit.
b
: actively participating in something
an involved citizen active in local politics
c
: having a romantic or sexual relationship
warned her not to get romantically involved
2
a
: marked by extreme and often needless or excessive complexity
a long and involved story
b
: difficult to deal with because of complexity or disorder
Her husband had been extravagant; and at his death … had left his affairs dreadfully involved.—
Jane Austen
Jane Austen3
: being affected or implicated
… dealing with … the most severely involved patients …—R. J. Thomas
R. J. ThomasExamples of involved in a Sentence
a long and involved story
The instructions for assembling the toy are very involved.
The process is quite involved.
Those of us who were involved knew exactly what happened.
Students who stay involved get more out of the program.
If you want to make things better, you need to get involved.
They quickly became romantically involved.
No one knew that they were involved.
Recent Examples on the Web
While fostering puppies is often associated with cuddles and playtime, Comer says the reality is more involved.
—Kendall Malinchock, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Michaels, who is an EP and whose Broadway Video is co-producing, has been heavily involved throughout.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026
The involved drivers were on the inner loop of I-695 and exited onto Perring Parkway when a suspect fired shots from their vehicle at the Putty Hill intersection, police said.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Pavvy—whose account recently gained 39,000 after her own negative experience with a major hockey equipment manufacturer sparked a massive wave of online support—had been receiving tons of messages about Heated Rivalry before the Olympics, with many fans looking to get more involved in the sport.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for involved
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.
Kendall Malinchock, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
Michaels, who is an EP and whose Broadway Video is co-producing, has been heavily involved throughout.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026
The involved drivers were on the inner loop of I-695 and exited onto Perring Parkway when a suspect fired shots from their vehicle at the Putty Hill intersection, police said.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Pavvy—whose account recently gained 39,000 after her own negative experience with a major hockey equipment manufacturer sparked a massive wave of online support—had been receiving tons of messages about Heated Rivalry before the Olympics, with many fans looking to get more involved in the sport.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for involved
Cite this Entry
“Involved.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/involved. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
