Word
enlist
Phoneticsen·list, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɛnˈɫɪst/
UK/ɛnlˈɪst/
Definitions
01to join the military
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to join the army, navy, or air force voluntarily.
v. to enroll voluntarily in the armed forces. Often used intransitively or with 'in'.
“He decided to enlist in the navy right after he finished high school.”
“Thousands of young citizens chose to enlist during the national crisis, motivated by a sense of duty rather than a desire for career advancement.”
Synonyms
02to get help from others
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to ask for and get help or support from someone.
v. to secure the support, aid, or cooperation of others for a specific purpose or project.
Español:enlistar
“The charity managed to enlist the help of several local businesses.”
“The researchers had to enlist the support of international experts to validate their findings before the final publication.”
03to join a cause
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to join a group or start helping with a specific goal or idea.
v. to join a non-military cause, organization, or movement voluntarily.
“She wanted to enlist in the fight against climate change.”
“Activists are hoping to enlist more students in the campaign to improve local public transport.”
Synonyms
Usage
The verb is transitive when seeking help ('enlist someone') and intransitive when joining the military ('enlist in').
Pitfall
He enlisted to the army
He enlisted in the army
When joining a military branch, the verb takes the preposition 'in' rather than 'to'.
Real-World Examples
“The younger Lomax’s first song-hunting trip without his father took place in the summer of 1935, though he didn’t travel alone, instead enlisting the help of two much older women.” “Why would such a young boy enlist in the first place?” Etymology
From en- + list.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/enlist
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0