embark
Americanverb (used without object)
-
embarks,
present (3rd person singular)
-
embarked,
past participle, past
-
embarking
present participle
-
to board a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle, as for a journey.
-
to start an enterprise, business, etc.
verb (used with object)
-
embarks,
present (3rd person singular)
-
embarked,
past participle, past
-
embarking
present participle
-
to put or receive on board a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.
-
to involve (someone) in an enterprise.
-
to venture or invest (something) in an enterprise.
verb
-
to board (a ship or aircraft)
-
(intr; usually foll by on or upon) to commence or engage (in) a new project, venture, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
embarksimple
-
embarkssimple
-
have embarkedperfect
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has embarkedperfect
-
am embarkingprogressive
-
are embarkingprogressive
-
is embarkingprogressive
-
have been embarkingperfect progressive
-
has been embarkingperfect progressive
Past
-
embarkedsimple
-
had embarkedperfect
-
was embarkingprogressive
-
were embarkingprogressive
-
had been embarkingperfect progressive
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.
See Examples For:
London was about to embark on a golden age as a capital of fashion and culture.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
The 77-year-old king, who is receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, will embark on a jam-packed trip to some of the furthest corners of the Commonwealth taking in three countries in nine days.
From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026
“If our CPI and wage forecasts are close to the mark, this would likely strengthen MPC members’ conviction to embark on this path at their next meeting,” she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
When their matriarch convinces the family to embark on a bucket-list road trip around the island, old family secrets surface as the 2019 protests following Hurricane Maria unfold around them.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Scene: After an uneventful Thanksgiving dinner, the three friends retire to Jupiter’s bedroom to while away an indeterminate number of hours while the parentals embark on whatever it is parentals embark on.
From "Odd One Out" by Nic Stone
She gets a tattoo and embarks on a fling, and with great tenderness Mr. Drury depicts the fallout from her 30-year itch, as it might be called.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
As Radcliff embarks on his investing journey, he has a goal of graduating debt-free with $250,000 in assets.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 24, 2026
When any side embarks on the sort of root and branch revolution the Italian presided over this summer, it is inevitable there will be teething problems and time required for understandings and relationships to form.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
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
This being the result, the prudent man embarks in this safe speculation.
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 57, No. 353, March 1845 by Various
Boeing embarked on a turnaround plan under CEO Kelly Ortberg, an industry veteran who took the reins in 2024.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2026
They embarked on media careers which included a high-profile interview with Oprah Winfrey and a deal with Netflix and Spotify.
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026
Three years ago, he embarked on a mission to investigate the incident, unaware that it would become a sweeping 600-plus-page revenge drama.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026
Back in the spring, before “La Bola Negra” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, Guitarrica embarked on his first U.S. tour, stopping in Los Angeles at the Roxy in March.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
That afternoon Shirley embarked on a campaign among the girls to elect Emily.
From "In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson" by Bette Bao Lord
Under the direction of new CEO Josh D’Amaro, the company is embarking on a path toward becoming a “more efficient” and “much smaller organization,” leaning on further internal consolidation and more external deals.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026
The 407-foot-tall rocket is embarking on a nearly 10-hour mission in which it is to complete six orbits around the Earth before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
The band’s five members are embarking on a music tour performing at malls and will do meet-and-greets in Gap stores.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Nims asked Mingma G to wait another day so they could meet once more before embarking on these separate missions, but that meeting never happened.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
I fantasized about leaving the fencing team and embarking on some other adventure.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
