involve

verb

in·​volve in-ˈvälv 

-ˈvȯlv,

 also  -ˈväv,

 or  -ˈvȯv

involved; involving

transitive verb

1

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

2

a

: to have within or as part of itself : include

b

: to require as a necessary accompaniment : entail

c

: affect entry 1

the cancer involved the lymph nodes

3

: to relate closely : connect

4

: to surround as if with a wrapping : envelop

5

archaic : to enfold or envelop so as to encumber

6

archaic : to wind, coil, or wreathe about

involver noun

Synonyms

• affect
• concern
• touch

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web

Indy’s litter-fighting collective Initiation to the Gripper Gang involves a 5-gallon bucket, a grip extender and maybe some decent walking shoes. —Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 19 Apr. 2024

The case: The investigation involves a $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels, an adult-film actress, during the 2016 presidential campaign. —Isaac Arnsdorf, Washington Post, 19 Apr. 2024

So the potential third installment will involve Kora and company tracking her down, while also seeking allies from surrounding planets now that there’s a blueprint for taking down Imperium dreadnoughts. —Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Apr. 2024

The unofficial holiday involves a celebration of pot in its various forms, including a growing category of edibles and drinks infused with THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (Cannabidiol), two chemicals found in the marijuana and hemp plants. —Mike Snider, The Courier-Journal, 19 Apr. 2024

Real inclusivity involves fostering and supporting local action, and this means backing climate adaptation and resilience. —Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2024

And Trader Joe’s was involved in a wider cotija cheese recall, which was linked to 23 hospitalizations and two deaths from Listeria monocytogenes infections. —Julia Landwehr, Health, 19 Apr. 2024

To make a very long story short: Iran backs three key militant groups involved in the current conflict: Hamas, Hezbollah (which is trading fire with Israel across its northern border with Lebanon) and the Houthis, which have attacked international commercial vessels in the Red Sea in recent months. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 19 Apr. 2024

Arc and Digital World are involved in a legal dispute regarding how many shares Arc is owed. —Drew Harwell, Washington Post, 7 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English envolven, involven "to cloud (with obscurities), envelop (in darkness, vice), encumber, surround," borrowed from Latin involvere "to move by rolling, roll back on itself, enclose in a covering, wrap up" (Medieval Latin, "to envelop [in tears, shadows], engage in an affair or occupation, implicate, ensnare"), from in- in- entry 2 + volvere "to set in a circular course, cause to roll, bring round" — more at wallow entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Phrases Containing involve

• involve oneself in

Kids Definition

involve

verb

in·​volve in-ˈvälv 

-ˈvȯlv

involved; involving

1

: to take part in as a participant

involved in bird watching

2

: to occupy absorbingly

so involved in the book, she didn't hear the doorbell

3

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

one problem involves others

4

: to call for : require

the job involved building 10 bridges

5

: to have an effect on : affect

the renovations involved the whole school

involvement

-mənt 

noun

involver noun

Medical Definition

involve

transitive verb

in·​volve

in-ˈvälv, -ˈvȯlv also -ˈväv or -ˈvȯv

involved; involving

: to affect with a disease or condition : include in an area of damage, trauma, or insult

all the bones of the skull were involved in the proliferative process

herpes involved the trigeminal nerve

severely involved patients were isolated

lacerations involved the muscles