embark

American  

[em-bahrk] / ɛmˈbɑrk /

verb (used without object)

• embarks,
  present (3rd person singular)
• embarked,
  past participle,  past
• embarking
  present participle

1. to board a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle, as for a journey.

2. to start an enterprise, business, etc.

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verb (used with object)

• embarks,
  present (3rd person singular)
• embarked,
  past participle,  past
• embarking
  present participle

1. to put or receive on board a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.

2. to involve (someone) in an enterprise.

3. to venture or invest (something) in an enterprise.

embark British  

/ ɛmˈbɑːk /

verb

1. to board (a ship or aircraft)

2. (intr; usually foll by on or upon) to commence or engage (in) a new project, venture, etc

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• embarkation
  noun
• embarkment
  noun
• reembark
  verb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• embarking
  present
• embarked
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• embark
  simple
• embarks
  simple
• have embarked
  perfect
• has embarked
  perfect
• am embarking
  progressive
• are embarking
  progressive
• is embarking
  progressive
• have been embarking
  perfect progressive
• has been embarking
  perfect progressive

Past

• embarked
  simple
• had embarked
  perfect
• was embarking
  progressive
• were embarking
  progressive
• had been embarking
  perfect progressive

Future

• will embark
  simple
• will have embarked
  perfect
• will be embarking
  progressive
• will have been embarking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of embark

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French embarquer, from Spanish embarcar; from em- em- ¹ + -barcar, verb derivative of barca bark ³

Explanation

When you embark on something, you are starting it — and it's exciting. You might embark on a new career or embark on a trip to the Galapagos Islands. You wouldn't embark on a trip to the grocery store. The verb embark can be used specifically to refer to boarding a ship for a journey. When used for general travel, the verb embark often implies a longer journey: "She embarked on a trip around the world." Besides physical journeys, embark can be used to mean to start other kinds of journeys as well. You might embark on a spiritual journey or embark on the path to enlightenment. Pack well.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

embark embarks embarked embarking

Follow along for the latest news and developments from Rams training camp as the team prepares to embark on a new season as the favorite to win the Super Bowl.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026

Having starred in student productions of Macbeth and A Midsummer Night's Dream, Neill instead decided to embark on an acting career.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

At the top of your memo, write, “Please read all of this before you embark on the house swap.”

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 2026

The wildlife park said it believed Mary made an "abnormally large leap" to embark on her 15-day adventure.

From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026

I think they could both embark on serious acting careers just based on this behavior.

From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King

Odysseus, a star player for the Achaeans, fresh off a stunning victory over rival Troy, embarks on an international tournament against a series of forbidding opponents.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

Until it embarks on a sustained and meaningful cultural shift, working cooperatively with patients and families, many fear it will continue to fail mothers and babies.

From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026

According to the post, Nautas’ name evokes the spirit of a “sailor, navigator, voyager, one who embarks on a journey and fears not the unknown.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 4, 2026

Analysts see even bigger things ahead for Sandisk as the company embarks on a significant business transformation.

From MarketWatch ● May 1, 2026

Saint Malo, when a youth, embarks with his teacher Brandan in a boat, in search of that mysterious country; after some days, the waves drive him back rebuffed and discouraged upon the seashore.

From The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries by W. Y. Evans Wentz

In 2020, the lab embarked on training a chatbot dubbed “Gopher,” purposely keeping the project secret from Google Brain.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026

Under the departing President Gustavo Petro, a former leftist guerrilla, the government embarked on simultaneous peace negotiations with about a dozen narco-trafficking groups to urge them to disarm and abandon drug smuggling.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Between 1831 and 1838, Sand embarked on a period she later dubbed her Romantic Rebellion, carrying on numerous affairs and publishing literature at a rapid clip.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

A former straight-A student who had dropped out of high school, he had embarked on a program of self-education, reading deeply in African American history, Greek philosophy, finance and other subjects.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026

Then, in 1921, the British embarked on their first expedition to Everest, and their decision to engage Sherpas as helpers sparked a transformation of Sherpa culture.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

How has your creative process changed since embarking on this new artistic journey ?

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026

Burnham, who is embarking on a tour of the UK while Parliament is in recess, has promised a series of "everyday fixes" to help people with the cost of living.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

Now she is embarking on perhaps the biggest gamble of them all.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Tesla is embarking on a massive construction spree that Musk characterized on a conference call as probably the United States' "fastest industrial scale up since World War Two."

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

I happen to be embarking on a motoring trip during the course of which I hope to see many splendid views.

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro

Related Words

• commence
• enter
• launch