enclose
Americanverb (used with object)
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to shut or hem in; close in on all sides.
a valley enclosed by tall mountains.
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to surround, as with a fence or wall.
to enclose land.
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to insert in the same envelope, package, or the like.
He enclosed a check.
A book was sent with the bill enclosed.
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to hold or contain.
His letter enclosed a check.
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Roman Catholic Church.
verb
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to close; hem in; surround
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to surround (land) with or as if with a fence
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to put in an envelope or wrapper, esp together with a letter
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to contain or hold
Other Word Forms
- enclosable adjective
- encloser noun
- preenclose verb (used with object)
- reenclose verb (used with object)
Etymology
Origin of enclose
First recorded in 1275–1325, enclose is from the Middle English word enclosen, inclosen. See in- 1, close
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.
Why not enclose Vuitton’s allotted space within the shell of a trans-Atlantic liner?
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 20, 2025
For many, the idea of hunkering down in a fire shelter for hours on end as flames enclose on all sides is hard to stomach.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2025
A family found the cans - light-tight containers used to enclose film - in the shed belonging to their father, an editor on the show who died recently.
From BBC • Oct. 7, 2024
In an open letter sent to the community in January, SHM described the “double-barrier” that will enclose the pens and other measures to address these concerns.
From Science Magazine • Feb. 19, 2024
She turned aside and made a steeple of her hands to enclose her nose and mouth and pressed her fingers into the corners of her eyes.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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.
