verb
Uncommon
enlist
ehn-LIHST
Enlist (verb) means to join the armed forces voluntarily. Example: “He enlisted in the navy right after finishing school.”
verb
1
To join the armed forces voluntarily.
"He enlisted in the navy right after finishing school."
2
To obtain the help or support of someone.
"They enlisted the government's support."
"She enlisted her neighbours to help paint the community hall."
How to use enlist
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo sign up for military service, or to recruit someone's help.
Common pairings
enlist in the army
enlist support
enlist the help of
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Word forms
- Plural
- enlists
- Third person singular
- enlists
- Past tense
- enlisted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ in the navy right after finishing school.
Etymology
From en- + list, literally "to put on a list".
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “enlist” mean?
The word “enlist” means to join the armed forces voluntarily. In plain terms, to sign up for military service, or to recruit someone's help.
How do you pronounce “enlist”?
“Enlist” is pronounced ehn-LIHST (/ɛnˈlɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “enlist” in a sentence?
Here is “enlist” used in a sentence: “He enlisted in the navy right after finishing school.”
What is another word for “enlist”?
Words with a similar meaning to “enlist” include catalogue, enroll, induct, put down, put on and register.
What is the opposite of “enlist”?
The opposite of “enlist” — its antonyms — are delist, deregister, disenroll, score off and uniquify.
What part of speech is “enlist”?
“Enlist” is a verb.
Is “enlist” a common word?
“Enlist” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “enlist” have?
“Enlist” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to join the armed forces voluntarily.
