involve

1 of 2

verb

in·​volve in-ˈvälv How to pronounce involve (audio)
-ˈvȯlv
also -ˈväv
or -ˈvȯv
involved; involving
Synonyms of involvenext

transitive verb

1
a
: to engage as a participant
workers involved in building a house
b
: to oblige to take part
right of Congress to involve the nation in war
c
: to occupy (someone, such as oneself) absorbingly
especially : to commit (someone) emotionally
was involved with a married man
2
a
: to have within or as part of itself : include
b
: to require as a necessary accompaniment : entail
c
: affect entry 1
the cancer involved the lymph nodes
3
: to relate closely : connect
4
: to surround as if with a wrapping : envelop
5
archaic : to enfold or envelop so as to encumber
6
archaic : to wind, coil, or wreathe about
involver noun

involver

2 of 2

noun

in·​volv·​er
-(l)və(r)
plural -s
: one that involves

Synonyms of involve

Relevance

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for involve

include, comprehend, embrace, involve mean to contain within as part of the whole.

include suggests the containment of something as a constituent, component, or subordinate part of a larger whole.

the price of dinner includes dessert

comprehend implies that something comes within the scope of a statement or definition.

his system comprehends all history

embrace implies a gathering of separate items within a whole.

her faith embraces both Christian and non-Christian beliefs

involve suggests inclusion by virtue of the nature of the whole, whether by being its natural or inevitable consequence.

the new job involves a lot of detail

Examples of involve in a Sentence

Verb He told us a story involving life on a farm. She remained involved with the organization for many years. Renovating the house involved hiring a contractor. The disease continued to spread until it involved the entire jaw.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
NDAs are involved, and streets surrounding the venue will be closed. — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 2 July 2026 Trading commodities, futures, and options involves a substantial risk of loss. — Usa Today, USA Today, 1 July 2026 Supporters hail the move as bringing accountability and coherence — through the governor — to all the departments and agencies involved in education. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 For all the breathless coverage devoted to celebrity engagements, weddings, and whirlwind divorces, some of Hollywood’s most enduring love stories involve couples who never bothered with the paperwork. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for involve

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English envolven, involven "to cloud (with obscurities), envelop (in darkness, vice), encumber, surround," borrowed from Latin involvere "to move by rolling, roll back on itself, enclose in a covering, wrap up" (Medieval Latin, "to envelop [in tears, shadows], engage in an affair or occupation, implicate, ensnare"), from in- in- entry 2 + volvere "to set in a circular course, cause to roll, bring round" — more at wallow entry 2

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Time Traveler
The first known use of involve was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing involve

Rhymes for involve

See All Rhymes for involve

Browse Nearby Words

involution
involve
involved
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Involve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/involve. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

involve

verb
in·​volve in-ˈvälv How to pronounce involve (audio)
-ˈvȯlv
involved; involving
1
: to take part in as a participant
involved in bird watching
2
: to occupy absorbingly
so involved in the book, she didn't hear the doorbell
3
: to have within or as a part of itself : include
one problem involves others
4
: to call for : require
the job involved building 10 bridges
5
: to have an effect on : affect
the renovations involved the whole school
involvement
-mənt How to pronounce involve (audio)
noun
involver noun

Medical Definition

involve

transitive verb
in·​volve
in-ˈvälv, -ˈvȯlv also -ˈväv or -ˈvȯv
involved; involving
: to affect with a disease or condition : include in an area of damage, trauma, or insult
all the bones of the skull were involved in the proliferative process
herpes involved the trigeminal nerve
severely involved patients were isolated
lacerations involved the muscles

More from Merriam-Webster on involve

Nglish: Translation of involve for Spanish Speakers

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