enlisted; enlisting; enlists
1
a
: to secure the support and aid of : employ in advancing an interest
enlist all the available resources
enlisted our help
b
: to win over : attract
trying to enlist my sympathies
2
: to engage (a person) for duty in the armed forces
1
: to enroll oneself in the armed forces
will enlist for three years
2
: to participate heartily (as in a cause, drive, or crusade)
Synonyms
Examples of enlist in a Sentence
They're enlisting volunteers for an experiment.
We enlisted all available resources.
I enlisted the help of our neighbors.
We enlisted the services of a professional.
They enlisted several new recruits.
After graduating, I enlisted in the navy.
He enlisted in the cause of world peace.
Recent Examples on the Web
Restoring the roof would also enlist skilled carpenters, stone workers and artisans trained in ancestral techniques with roots in French and European history.
—
Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024
After Russia invaded Ukraine the following year, the Administration, together with a network of advocates, enlisted volunteers to take in more than a hundred and eighty thousand Ukrainians.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2024
The threats alone have rattled world markets, inspired migrants to enlist lawyers, and Pentagon officials to explore what happens if a President orders soldiers to break the law.
—Nancy Gibbs, TIME, 4 Dec. 2024
He was offered admission to the State University of New York at Binghamton, but deferred for a year and moved to Israel to enlist in the army.
—Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for enlist 
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Michael Kimmelman, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2024
After Russia invaded Ukraine the following year, the Administration, together with a network of advocates, enlisted volunteers to take in more than a hundred and eighty thousand Ukrainians.
—Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2024
The threats alone have rattled world markets, inspired migrants to enlist lawyers, and Pentagon officials to explore what happens if a President orders soldiers to break the law.
—Nancy Gibbs, TIME, 4 Dec. 2024
He was offered admission to the State University of New York at Binghamton, but deferred for a year and moved to Israel to enlist in the army.
—Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for enlist
Dictionary Entries Near enlist
Cite this Entry
“Enlist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enlist. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
enlist
verb
en·list
in-ˈlist 
1
a
: to enroll for military or naval service
especially
: to join one of the armed services voluntarily
b
: to participate heartily (as in a cause or drive)
2
: to obtain the help or support of
enlisted their friends in the campaign
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