verb
Uncommon
entail
ehn-TAYL
Entail (verb) means to involve or require something as a necessary consequence. Example: “Running a marathon entails months of serious training.”
verb
1
To involve or require something as a necessary consequence.
"Running a marathon entails months of serious training."
"The new job entails a lot of travel."
noun
1
(law) An estate whose inheritance is restricted to a specific line of heirs.
"Under the old entail, the estate could only pass to a male heir."
How to use entail
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo bring something along with it as a necessary part or consequence.
Common pairings
entails a risk
the job entails
what does it entail
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Word forms
- Plural
- entails
- Third person singular
- entails
- Past tense
- entailed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Running a marathon _____ months of serious training.
Etymology
From Old French entailler, "to cut into," from en- + tailler ("to cut"). The legal sense comes from the idea of an inheritance being "cut" or fixed to a set line of heirs.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for entail
See all rhymes for entail →Frequently asked questions
What does “entail” mean?
The word “entail” means to involve or require something as a necessary consequence. In plain terms, to bring something along with it as a necessary part or consequence.
How do you pronounce “entail”?
“Entail” is pronounced ehn-TAYL (/ɛnˈteɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “entail” in a sentence?
Here is “entail” used in a sentence: “Running a marathon entails months of serious training.”
What part of speech is “entail”?
Depending on how it is used, “entail” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “entail” come from?
The word “entail” comes from Old French. From Old French entailler, "to cut into," from en- + tailler ("to cut"). The legal sense comes from the idea of an inheritance being "cut" or fixed to a set line of heirs.
Is “entail” a common word?
“Entail” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “entail” have?
“Entail” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to involve or require something as a necessary consequence.
