enlist

C2+ Topic:War & Conflict

US /ɪnˈlɪst/ UK /ɪnˈlɪst/ See IPA manual

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to enroll in the armed forces, or to secure someone's help

He enlisted in the navy at eighteen.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to enroll in the armed... enroll recruit joinsign upengage muster conscript

Opposites

dischargedemobilizeresign withdraw

Word family

Derived forms enlistmentenlisteeenlister

Related forms list enrollment

Etymology

From en- (causative) + list ('a roll, register'), modeled on Dutch inlijsten or simply native formation; list from Old English liste ('border, strip').

liste Old French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

War & Conflict Word Formation & Derivatives

# enlist

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** ɪnˈlɪst
**IPA (UK):** ɪnˈlɪst

## Meanings
1. to enroll in the armed forces, or to secure someone's help

## Examples
- He enlisted in the navy at eighteen.

## Synonyms
- enroll
- recruit
- join
- sign up
- engage
- muster
- conscript

## Antonyms
- discharge
- demobilize
- resign
- withdraw

## Derived Forms
- enlistment
- enlistee
- enlister

## Related Forms
- list
- enrollment

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: liste

## Etymology
From en- (causative) + list ('a roll, register'), modeled on Dutch inlijsten or simply native formation; list from Old English liste ('border, strip').

## AI Etymology
Enlist comes from en- (causative) + list ('a roll, register'), modeled on Dutch inlijsten or simply native formation; list from Old English liste ('border, strip'). The historical trail runs through Old English liste. Morphologically, the surface form is analyzable into prefixes, suffixes, compounds, or participial endings that carry part of the history. In modern use it means to enroll in the armed forces, or to secure someone's help. Derived formations include enlistment, enlistee, enlister; related forms include list, enrollment.

## Topics
- War & Conflict
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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enlist

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