involve

verb

in·​volve in-ˈvälv 

-ˈvȯlv

also -ˈväv

or -ˈvȯv

involved; involving

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

Synonyms of involve

• affect
• concern

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

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

In some cases, the panel couldn’t even identify ICE or Border Patrol agents involved in high-profile clashes. —Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026

Officers were called to the Weinberg Housing and Resource Center at 620 Fallsway in Baltimore City on April 6 for a report of an armed person involved in an assault. —Alexa Ashwell, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2026

Sleep stages differ in important ways, Monika Schönauer, a sleep researcher at the University of Freiburg, who wasn’t involved in the study, told me. —Shayla Love, New Yorker, 1 May 2026

Seiguer was involved in early conversations with the Office of Child and Youth Success about Measure H’s implementation, including helping provide training to child-care providers who would host their services outdoors. —Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Phrases Containing involve

• involve oneself in

Rhymes for involve

• absolve
• devolve
• dissolve
• evolve
• resolve
• revolve
• solve

Kids Definition

involve

verb

in·​volve in-ˈvälv 

-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 

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