enlist
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
-
to engage for military service.
to enlist men for the army.
-
to secure (a person, services, etc.) for some cause, enterprise, etc..
They enlisted us to serve as ushers at the meeting.
verb
-
to enter or persuade to enter into an engagement to serve in the armed forces
-
(tr) to engage or secure (a person, his services, or his support) for a venture, cause, etc
-
to enter into or join an enterprise, cause, etc
Other Word Forms
- enlister noun
- enlistment noun
- preenlist verb
- unenlisted adjective
Etymology
Origin of enlist
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.
He enlisted help in that effort from such beloved figures as Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams and his own father, comedy legend Carl Reiner.
From Los Angeles Times
As early experiments produced promising results, the pair enlisted more students from their labs.
From Science Daily
In his first days as deputy director in March, Bongino ordered a briefing on the bombs and declared solving the case one of his priorities, enlisting the help of new investigators.
In 2024, the nonprofit launched the Nation’s Capital Project and enlisted some of the top names in golf architecture to advise on the renovations.
When the lord chief justice of England is killed on Temple grounds, Gabriel is enlisted to identify the murderer.
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.
