embark
Americanverb (used without object)
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to board a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle, as for a journey.
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to start an enterprise, business, etc.
verb (used with object)
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to put or receive on board a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.
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to involve (someone) in an enterprise.
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to venture or invest (something) in an enterprise.
verb
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to board (a ship or aircraft)
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(intr; usually foll by on or upon) to commence or engage (in) a new project, venture, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have embarkedperfect
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has embarkedperfect 3rd person singular
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have been embarkingperfect progressive
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are embarkingprogressive
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is embarkingprogressive 3rd person singular
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am embarkingprogressive 1st person singular
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embarkssingular 3rd person
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embarkingparticiple
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has been embarkingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
Past
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had embarkedperfect
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embarkedparticiple
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was embarkingprogressive singular
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had been embarkingperfect progressive
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were embarkingprogressive plural
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embarkedsimple
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing embark
Vocabulary from "There Will Never Be an Age of Artificial Intimacy," by Sherry Turkle
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Vocabulary from Donald Trump's Victory Speech, November 9, 2016
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Vocabulary from news articles about rescued teenage sailor
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Little Timmy, Brooke and Boo's DNA tests, provided by company Embark, came back as 49.1% Gray Wolf and 50.9% Czechoslovakian Vlcak.
From BBC • Jan. 11, 2026
High-profile autonomous driving startups such as TuSimple and Embark, each of which had gone public with multibillion-dollar valuations, have wound down their U.S. operations.
From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 24, 2025
And in Denver, Colorado, students at micro-middle school Embark work out of a coffee and bicycle shop to meet unmet demand and experience learning that is grounded in their broader community.
From Salon • Dec. 12, 2024
“The lust for luxury is real,” said Jack Ezon, the founder of the high-end travel agency Embark Beyond.
From New York Times • Jan. 18, 2024
But now in thy misfortune I would fain Embark with thee in thy calamity.
From The Seven Plays in English Verse by Sophocles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
