Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

involve

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of involve

1 to be the business or affair of
  • this isnʼt something that involves you, so donʼt worry about it
Synonyms of involve

affect, concern, touch
Words Related to involve

appertain (to), apply (to), bear (on), pertain (to), refer (to), relate (to)

embroil, ensnare, entangle, implicate
2 to have as part of a whole
  • a tragic play usually involves a number of plot devices, including the heroʼs fatal flaw
Synonyms of involve

carry, comprehend, contain, embrace, encompass, entail, include, number, subsume, take in
Words Related to involve

comprise, consist (of)

bracket

have, hold, own, possess

admit, receive

compose, constitute, form, make

assimilate, embody, incorporate, integrate
Near Antonyms of involve

ban, bar, debar, preclude, prevent, prohibit

deny, refuse, reject

eliminate, except, rule out

lose, mislay, misplace
Antonyms of involve

exclude, leave (out), miss out [British], omit
3 to hold the attention of
  • her blissful daydream so completely involved her that she never heard the knock on the door
Synonyms of involve

absorb, bemuse, busy, catch up, engage, engross, enthrall (or enthral), enwrap, fascinate, grip, immerse, interest, intrigue, occupy
Words Related to involve

allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, obsess

hypnotize, mesmerize

distract, preoccupy

hog, monopolize
Phrases Synonymous with involve

catch one's eye
Near Antonyms of involve

bore, jade, pall, tire, weary
4 to surround or cover closely
  • a mind that was deeply involved in doubt about his wife's fidelity
Synonyms of involve

bosom, bower, circumfuse, cocoon, embosom, embower, embrace, enclose (also inclose), encompass, enfold, enshroud, enswathe, envelop, enwrap, invest, lap, mantle, muffle, shroud, swathe, veil, wrap
Words Related to involve

curtain, drape

embed (also imbed), encase

swaddle

blanket, overlay, overspread

camouflage, cloak, disguise, mask

circle, encircle, enlace, enwind
Near Antonyms of involve

bare, denude, expose, strip

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

Learn More about involve

  1. See words that rhyme with involve Dictionary: Definition of involve Medical Dictionary: Definition of involve Spanish Central: Translation of involve Nglish: Translation of involve for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of involve for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up involve? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games