enlist
English
Alternative forms
- inlist (archaic)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɛnˈlɪst/, /ɪnˈlɪst/
Audio (Southern England) (file)
- Rhymes: -ɪst
Verb
enlist (third-person singular simple present enlists, present participle enlisting, simple past and past participle enlisted)
- (transitive) To enter on a list; to enroll; to register.
- (intransitive) To voluntarily join a cause or organization, especially military service.
- The army wants potential soldiers to enlist.
- (transitive) To recruit the aid or membership of others.
- We enlisted fifty new members.
- 1890, E. H. Parker, “On Race Struggles in Corea”, in Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan, volume XVIII, Tokyo: The Hakubunsha, →OCLC, page 218:
- “The Emperor visited east-central China (江與京洛), and enlisted 400,000 soldiers and 500 Wu ships to cross the seas and go to P’ing-jang, (the Kao-li capital).”
- (transitive) To secure; to obtain.
- They enlisted the government's support.
- 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 4, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad:
- “I have tried, as I hinted, to enlist the co-operation of other capitalists, but experience has taught me that any appeal is futile that does not impinge directly upon cupidity. […] ”
Synonyms
- (enter on a list): enscroll; see also Thesaurus:enlist
Derived terms
Translations
to enter on a list, enroll, register
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to join a cause or organization
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to recruit others
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to secure, obtain
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Noun
enlist (plural enlists)
- One who is enlisted, usually in a military service.
- 2006, USA International Business Publications, Taiwan National Security And Defense Law And Regulations Handbook:
- […] 19.17% are enlisted officers (including cadets and midshipmen with BA degrees and associate degrees, officers Designated Military Occupational Specialty, the enlists converting into conscripts], officers from ROTCs) ; 0.31% are conscripted […]
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