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)
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
Their ranks are largely made up of former Maoists and Adivasis, enlisted because of their familiarity with the region – and Naxal tactics.
—
Dhruv Tikekar, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
Intriguingly, some mainstream news organizations have started to line up creators in new business deals, hoping these digital experts represent a way of enlisting journalistic acumen without having to bring a full-time staffer aboard.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 28 May 2026
Investigators said Liza Ridley fatally shot 53-year-old Vincent Good multiple times in the head at least two weeks ago in their home in Mayfair and then enlisted the help of her older sister, her daughter and her boyfriend to dismember his body and dispose of it.
—Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Joanna Zelman, a former staffer at The Dodo, told ABC News' Danny New she and her dad were enlisted nearly four years ago to transport two 10-day-old calves named Mickey and Moose, who at the time were not thriving at a farm in Vermont.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for enlist
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Dhruv Tikekar, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
Intriguingly, some mainstream news organizations have started to line up creators in new business deals, hoping these digital experts represent a way of enlisting journalistic acumen without having to bring a full-time staffer aboard.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 28 May 2026
Investigators said Liza Ridley fatally shot 53-year-old Vincent Good multiple times in the head at least two weeks ago in their home in Mayfair and then enlisted the help of her older sister, her daughter and her boyfriend to dismember his body and dispose of it.
—Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Joanna Zelman, a former staffer at The Dodo, told ABC News' Danny New she and her dad were enlisted nearly four years ago to transport two 10-day-old calves named Mickey and Moose, who at the time were not thriving at a farm in Vermont.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for enlist
Cite this Entry
“Enlist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enlist. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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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