# include

/ˌɪnˈkɫud/ (US) · /ɪnklˈuːd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/include
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to make part of a group

verb · CEFR A1

to put someone or something into a group, list, or total.

For teachers: to incorporate an entity into a larger group, class, or collection as a constituent part.

- Please include your phone number on the application form.
- The organisers decided to include several local artists in the exhibition to ensure the community felt represented.

Usage: This is a transitive verb that takes a direct object.

### 2. to contain as a part

verb · CEFR A2

to have something as one of its parts or members.

For teachers: to contain or comprise as part of a whole; to have as a component.

- The breakfast menu includes coffee, tea, and fresh fruit.
- The comprehensive insurance policy includes coverage for accidental damage but excludes intentional acts of negligence.

Usage: Often used in the present simple to describe the contents of a set or package.

### 3. programming directive

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to use a special command that brings code from another file into your program.

For teachers: to use a preprocessor directive or command that imports the contents of an external file into the current source file.

- You need to include the header file at the top of your code.
- The developer failed to include the necessary library, resulting in a compilation error when the compiler reached the undefined functions.

Usage: Commonly used as a keyword in languages like C, C++, and PHP.

### 4. included file

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a file or piece of code that is added to another file.

For teachers: a file or resource that is intended to be incorporated into another document or program via a directive.

- Check the includes folder to find the database settings.
- The project structure separates the main logic from the various includes to make the codebase easier to maintain.

## Examples

- The price of the room includes breakfast.
- Please make sure to include your phone number on the application form so we can contact you.
- The comprehensive report must include all relevant data points from the last quarter to ensure the board has a complete picture of our financial health.

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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.