enlist

/ɪnˈlɪst/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈlɪst/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈlist en-/ (ame, mw)

enlist — verb

  • enlistpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • enlistshe / she / it
  • enlistedpast simple
  • enlisting-ing form

1. to sign up to serve as a member of a country's military forces, such as the army

1.動詞不及物B2
釋義

to sign up to serve as a member of a country's military forces, such as the army, navy, or air force

例句

After finishing college, Christopher enlisted in the navy and began basic training.

enlist in [branch of military]

At the age of nineteen, Mizuki enlisted in the air force and trained to fly.

同義詞
  • join up

    informal British alternative; 'He joined up at eighteen.'

  • sign up

    less formal, can also apply to non-military enrolment

  • volunteer

    emphasises the voluntary nature rather than the formal act of signing

  • enroll

    broader term; can apply to school or courses, not just military

反義詞
  • desert

    to leave the military without permission — the opposite of joining

  • discharge

    to be released from service, usually by official decision, not by choice

文法句型

enlist + in + noun phrase (branch of military)

enlist + as + noun phrase (role)

用法筆記

Frequently used with the preposition 'in' to name the branch of service (enlist in the army / navy / air force / marines). The preposition 'as' specifies the role (enlist as a medic / soldier). The transitive use (enlist somebody) means to recruit them into the military, which is less common in everyday speech.

常見錯誤

❌I enlisted to the military.
✅I enlisted in the military.
💡The correct preposition is 'in' when naming the branch or organisation, not 'to'.
❌He enlisted himself in the army.
✅He enlisted in the army.
💡'Enlist' is already reflexive in meaning; adding 'himself' is redundant.

2. to persuade someone to provide help, support, or their efforts for a particular

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to persuade someone to provide help, support, or their efforts for a particular cause or task

例句

Reema enlisted the help of two librarians to research her family history.

enlist the help of [person]

The neighbourhood group enlisted volunteers to plant trees along the main street.

同義詞
  • recruit

    stronger sense of active searching and signing up; more formal and organisational

  • secure

    more business-like; can also apply to funding or resources, not just people

  • obtain

    neutral and broad; lacks the sense of personal persuasion

  • mobilize

    implies organising and activating people quickly, often in an emergency

反義詞
  • refuse

    to say no to a request — the opposite of agreeing to help

  • decline

    polite refusal; more formal than 'refuse'

文法句型

enlist + noun phrase (help/support) + of + noun phrase (person)

enlist + noun phrase (person) + to-infinitive clause

用法筆記

Common in formal, organisational, and journalistic contexts. The object is typically an abstract noun like 'help,' 'support,' or 'aid,' or a person directly followed by a to-infinitive clause (enlist someone to do something). Unlike 'recruit,' which implies an active search and a formal role, 'enlist' focuses on asking someone who then agrees to contribute.

常見錯誤

❌She enlisted the project manager.' (ambiguous — implies military recruitment).
✅She enlisted the project manager's help.
💡Specify the type of support to avoid confusion with the military sense.
❌They enlisted him for helping.
✅They enlisted him to help.
💡Use the to-infinitive form after the person, not 'for + -ing'.