# enlist

/ˌɛnˈɫɪst/ (US) · /ɛnlˈɪst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/enlist
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to join the military

verb · CEFR B2

to join the army, navy, or air force voluntarily.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Commonly followed by the preposition 'in'.

### 2. to get help from others

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to ask for and get help or support from someone.

For teachers: to secure the support, aid, or cooperation of others for a specific purpose or project.

- 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.

Usage: Usually takes a direct object, often followed by 'the help of' or 'the support of'.

### 3. to join a cause

verb · CEFR B2

to join a group or start helping with a specific goal or idea.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- He decided to enlist in the navy after finishing school.
- The charity hopes to enlist local businesses to help provide food for the community event.
- To ensure the success of the new environmental policy, the mayor sought to enlist the cooperation of several influential community leaders and local activists.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.