involve
to engage or employ.
to affect, as something within the scope of operation.
to include, contain, or comprehend within itself or its scope.
to bring into an intricate or complicated form or condition.
to bring into difficulties (usually followed by with): The investigation discovered a plot to involve one nation in a war with another.
to cause to be troublesomely associated or concerned, as in something embarrassing or unfavorable: Don't involve me in your quarrel!
to combine inextricably (usually followed by with).
to implicate, as in guilt or crime, or in any matter or affair.
to engage the interests or emotions or commitment of: The professor involved many students in the disarmament movement.Her husband became involved with another woman.
to preoccupy or absorb fully (usually used passively or reflexively): You are much too involved with the problem to see it clearly.
to envelop or enfold, as if with a wrapping.
to swallow up, engulf, or overwhelm.
Archaic. to roll, surround, or shroud, as in a wrapping.
to roll up on itself; wind spirally; coil; wreathe.
Origin of involve
1synonym study For involve
Other words for involve
Opposites for involve
Other words from involve
- in·volve·ment, noun
- in·volv·er, noun
- in·ter·in·volve, verb (used with object), in·ter·in·volved, in·ter·in·volv·ing.
- o·ver·in·volve, verb (used with object), o·ver·in·volved, o·ver·in·volv·ing.
- pre·in·volve, verb (used with object), pre·in·volved, pre·in·volv·ing.
- re·in·volve, verb (used with object), re·in·volved, re·in·volv·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for involve
/ (ɪnˈvɒlv) /
to include or contain as a necessary part: the task involves hard work
to have an effect on; spread to: the investigation involved many innocent people
(often passive; usually foll by in or with) to concern or associate significantly: many people were involved in the crime
(often passive) to make complicated; tangle: the situation was further involved by her disappearance
rare, often poetic to wrap or surround
maths obsolete to raise to a specified power
Origin of involve
1Derived forms of involve
- involvement, noun
- involver, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with involve
see get involved with.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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