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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Enlist Definition, Examples, and Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：recruit (enlist)

enlist 🔊

/ɪnˈlɪst/

to get someone's help or support for a task or cause.

recruit 🔊

➕

/rɪˈkruːt/

To persuade someone to join or participate in a task, project, or cause, often by gaining their support or cooperation.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

en- (to cause) + list (list); from Old French 'enlister', meaning to enroll on a list.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'en-list' — add your name to a list of helpers or soldiers, and you're committed.

📖 Example

For the community clean-up day, we need to enlist more volunteers from the neighborhood. 🔊 For the community clean-up day, we need to recruit more volunteers from the neighborhood.

🔗 Collocations

enlist someone's help – to get someone's assistance for a task

enlist support for – to gather backing or approval for something

enlist in a project – to join or recruit others to work on a project

🔄 Synonyms

recruit (v.) – to persuade someone to join an organization or activity

mobilize (v.) – to organize and bring together people or resources for action

draft (v.) – to select and compel someone to serve, especially in the military

🚫 Antonyms

dismiss (v.) – to send away or refuse to consider someone's participation

exclude (v.) – to prevent someone from joining or being involved

reject (v.) – to refuse to accept or consider someone's offer to help

🌱 Derivatives

enlistment (n.) – the act of enlisting or the state of being enlisted

enlisted (adj.) – having been recruited, especially in a military context

enlistee (n.) – a person who has enlisted

📖 Cultural Story

During the World Wars, 'enlist' was famously used in U.S. recruitment posters like 'I Want You'. It became a key term for voluntary military service.

Meaning 2：enlist (enlist)

enlist 🔊

/ɪnˈlɪst/

to officially join the military as a soldier.

enlist 🔊

➕

/ɪnˈlɪst/

To formally join the armed forces as a volunteer, typically by signing an agreement to serve for a specified period.

📁 Category：Warfare & Battle 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

After high school, he decided to enlist in the army to serve his country. 🔊 After high school, he decided to join the army to serve his country.

🔗 Collocations

enlist in the army – to join the army as a soldier

enlist for service – to sign up for military duty

re-enlist – to sign up again for another term of military service

🔄 Synonyms

join up (phr.v.) – to become a member of a military organization

sign up (phr.v.) – to commit oneself to a course or organization, often by completing a form

volunteer (v.) – to offer oneself for a service or duty willingly

🚫 Antonyms

desert (v.) – to leave military service without permission

discharge (v.) – to release someone from military service

dodge (v.) – to avoid or escape from military conscription

🌱 Derivatives

enlistee (n.) – a person who has enlisted in the military

enlistment (n.) – the period or act of serving as an enlisted soldier

re-enlistment (n.) – the act of enlisting again for further service