/ ɪnˈlɪst; NAmE / verb
1.
enlist sth/sb (in sth) | enlist sb (as sth) to persuade sb to help you or to join you in doing sth :
[ vn ]
They hoped to enlist the help of the public in solving the crime.
We were enlisted as helpers.
[also vn to inf ]
2.
enlist (sb) (in / into / for sth) | enlist (sb) (as sth) to join or to make sb join the armed forces
SYN call up , conscript , draft :
[ v ]
They both enlisted in 1915.
to enlist as a soldier
[ vn ]
He was enlisted into the US Navy.
► en·list·ment noun [ U ]:
the enlistment of expert help
his enlistment in the Royal Air Force
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (formerly also as inlist ): from en- , in- in, on + list enlist for military service , perhaps suggested by Dutch inlijsten put on a list.