verb · 16 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ɪnˈvɒlv/
British, Southern, Standard:/ɪnˈvɔlv/
Multicultural-London-English:/ɪnˈvoːv/
General-American:/ɪnˈvɑlv/
General-American:/ɪnˈvɔlv/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɒlv
CMU ARPABET:IH2 N V AA1 L V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To have (something) as a component or a related part; to comprise, to include.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
My job involves forecasting economic trends.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: comprehend
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To have (something) as a component or a related part; to comprise, to include.
To include (something) as a logical or natural, or necessary component, or consequence or effect of something else; to entail, to imply.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: specifically, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: comprehend
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
By involving herself in her local community, Mary met lots of people and also helped make it a nicer place to live.
How can we involve the audience more during the show?
I don’t want to involve him in my personal affairs.
We are always trying to involve new technology in our products.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: include
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation.
Chiefly followed by with: to engage (someone or oneself) in an emotional or sexual relationship.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: also, reflexive, specifically, transitive
Qualifier: chiefly passive voice
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: include
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); especially, to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
His story completely involved me during the entire afternoon
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: absorb, engross, engage, occupy
12
verb
Meaning 12
require as useful, just, or proper
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
It takes nerve to do what she did
success usually requires hard work
This job asks a lot of patience and skill
This position demands a lot of personal sacrifice
This dinner calls for a spectacular dessert
This intervention does not postulate a patient's consent
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: necessitate, ask, postulate, need, require, take, call for, demand
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: claim, take, exact, govern, draw, cost, cry out for, cry for, compel
13
verb
Meaning 13
contain as a part
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Dinner at Joe's always involves at least six courses
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: include
14
verb
Meaning 14
have as a necessary feature
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
This decision involves many changes
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: imply
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: have, feature
Narrower terms: carry
15
verb
Meaning 15
connect closely and often incriminatingly
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
This new ruling affects your business
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: affect, regard
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: refer, pertain, relate, concern, come to, bear on, touch, touch on, have-to doe with
Narrower terms: implicate
16
verb
Meaning 16
engage as a participant
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
Don't involve me in your family affairs!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: admit, let in, include
Narrower terms: embroil, tangle, sweep, sweep up, drag, drag in, entangle, mire
History
Etymology
PIE word *h1én From Late Middle English involven (“to cloud; to encumber; to envelop, surround; to ponder (something); (reflexive) to concern (oneself) with something”) [and other forms], borrowed from Old French involver, envoudre, or from its etymon Latin involvere, the present active infinitive of Latin involvō (“to roll to or upon something; to roll about; to coil or curl up; to cover; to envelop, wrap up; to overwhelm”), from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside, within’) + volvō (“to roll; to tumble”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *welH- (“to turn; to wind (turn coils)”)).
Across languages
Translations
132 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Esperanto:
ampleksi
— to have (something) as a component or a related part — see also comprise, include
Finnish:
kuulua
— to have (something) as a component or a related part — see also comprise, include
Finnish:
sisältää
— to have (something) as a component or a related part — see also comprise, include
Finnish:
käsittää
— to have (something) as a component or a related part — see also comprise, include
German:
verbunden sein (mit)
— to have (something) as a component or a related part — see also comprise, include
German:
mit sich bringen
— to have (something) as a component or a related part — see also comprise, include
Macedonian:
вклу́чува
(vklúčuva)
— to have (something) as a component or a related part — see also comprise, include
Macedonian:
вклу́чи
(vklúči)
— to have (something) as a component or a related part — see also comprise, include
Malayalam:
ഉൾപ്പെടുക
(uḷppeṭuka)
— to have (something) as a component or a related part — see also comprise, include
Spanish:
involucrado
— to have (something) as a component or a related part — see also comprise, include
Bulgarian:
наме́свам
(namésvam)
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Czech:
zamotat se do
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Czech:
zaplést se
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Estonian:
haaratud olema
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Finnish:
sotkea
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Finnish:
sekoittaa
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Finnish:
osallistua
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Finnish:
uppoutua
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Finnish:
sekaantua
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Finnish:
tuoda mukaan
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Finnish:
vetää mukaan
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Finnish:
hyödyntää
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Finnish:
yhdistää
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Finnish:
liittää
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
French:
impliquer
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
French:
involver
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
German:
sich engagieren
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
German:
jdn. bei etwas einschalten
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
German:
einbinden
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
German:
einbeziehen
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
German:
jdn. hinzuziehen (zu etwas)
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Italian:
coinvolgere
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Macedonian:
за́меша
(zámeša)
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Macedonian:
заме́шува
(zaméšuva)
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Macedonian:
во́влече
(vóvleče)
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Macedonian:
вовле́кува
(vovlékuva)
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Macedonian:
вклу́чува
(vklúčuva)
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Macedonian:
вклу́чи
(vklúči)
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Malayalam:
ഉൾപ്പെടുത്തുക
(uḷppeṭuttuka)
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Polish:
angażować
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Polish:
zaangażować
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Portuguese:
envolver
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Russian:
каса́ться
(kasátʹsja)
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Russian:
косну́ться
(kosnútʹsja)
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Spanish:
involucrarse
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Spanish:
involucrar
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Spanish:
llevar en la balastra
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Ukrainian:
стосува́тися
(stosuvátysja)
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Welsh:
cynnwys
— to cause or engage (someone or something) to become connected or implicated, or to participate, in some activity or situation
Finnish:
olla suhteessa
— to engage (someone or oneself) in an emotional or sexual relationship
German:
(dabei) mitspielen
— to engage (someone or oneself) in an emotional or sexual relationship
Azerbaijani:
qatmaq
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Azerbaijani:
calamaq
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Azerbaijani:
qoşmaq
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Azerbaijani:
qarışdırmaq
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Bulgarian:
оплитам
(oplitam)
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Bulgarian:
заплитам
(zaplitam)
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Bulgarian:
включвам в себе си
(vključvam v sebe si)
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Czech:
zahrnout
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Czech:
zamíchat
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Czech:
zapojit
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Finnish:
johtaa
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Finnish:
sotkea
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Finnish:
viedä
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
German:
verwickeln
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
German:
verstricken
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
German:
hineinziehen (in etw. Negatives)
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Macedonian:
во́влече
(vóvleče)
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Macedonian:
вовле́кува
(vovlékuva)
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Malayalam:
ഉൾപ്പെടുത്തുക
(uḷppeṭuttuka)
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Portuguese:
envolver
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Russian:
содержа́ть
(soderžátʹ)
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Russian:
включа́ть
(vključátʹ)
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Russian:
включи́ть
(vključítʹ)
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Ukrainian:
включа́ти
(vključáty)
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Ukrainian:
місти́ти
(mistýty)
— to entangle, intertwine, or mingle (something with one or more other things, or several things together); to entangle (someone or something) in a confusing or troublesome situation
Bulgarian:
обхващам
(obhvaštam)
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Czech:
zabalit
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Finnish:
peittää
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Finnish:
ympäröidä
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Finnish:
sulkea
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Finnish:
kätkeä
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
German:
(etw.)einwickeln
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Hungarian:
magába foglal
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Italian:
avvolgere
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Japanese:
巻き込む
(makikomu)
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Macedonian:
о́пфати
(ópfati)
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Macedonian:
о́пфаќа
(ópfaḱa)
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Macedonian:
о́бземе
(óbzeme)
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Macedonian:
о́бзема
(óbzema)
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Portuguese:
envolver
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Russian:
обвола́кивать
(obvolákivatʹ)
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Russian:
обволо́чь
(obvolóčʹ)
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Russian:
оку́тывать
(okútyvatʹ)
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Russian:
оку́тать
(okútatʹ)
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Russian:
покрыва́ть
(pokryvátʹ)
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Russian:
покры́ть
(pokrýtʹ)
— to cover or envelop (something) completely; to hide, to surround
Bulgarian:
увивам
(uvivam)
— to form (something) into a coil or spiral, or into folds — see also fold up, roll
Czech:
zavinout
— to form (something) into a coil or spiral, or into folds — see also fold up, roll
Czech:
svinout
— to form (something) into a coil or spiral, or into folds — see also fold up, roll
Finnish:
kääriä
— to form (something) into a coil or spiral, or into folds — see also fold up, roll
German:
einrollen
— to form (something) into a coil or spiral, or into folds — see also fold up, roll
German:
aufrollen
— to form (something) into a coil or spiral, or into folds — see also fold up, roll
German:
aufräufeln
— to form (something) into a coil or spiral, or into folds — see also fold up, roll
German:
falten
— to form (something) into a coil or spiral, or into folds — see also fold up, roll
Macedonian:
за́витка
(závitka)
— to form (something) into a coil or spiral, or into folds — see also fold up, roll
Macedonian:
зави́ткува
(zavítkuva)
— to form (something) into a coil or spiral, or into folds — see also fold up, roll
Russian:
обёртывать
(objórtyvatʹ)
— to form (something) into a coil or spiral, or into folds — see also fold up, roll
Russian:
оберну́ть pf or обороти́ть
(obernútʹ)
— to form (something) into a coil or spiral, or into folds — see also fold up, roll
Russian:
обора́чивать
(oboráčivatʹ)
— to form (something) into a coil or spiral, or into folds — see also fold up, roll
Russian:
оберну́ть
(obernútʹ)
— to form (something) into a coil or spiral, or into folds — see also fold up, roll
Spanish:
envolver
— to form (something) into a coil or spiral, or into folds — see also fold up, roll
Bulgarian:
усложнявам
(usložnjavam)
— to make (something) intricate — see also complicate
Czech:
zkomplikovat
— to make (something) intricate — see also complicate
Czech:
zamotat
— to make (something) intricate — see also complicate
Finnish:
mutkistaa
— to make (something) intricate — see also complicate
German:
verkomplizieren
— to make (something) intricate — see also complicate
German:
mit Schwierigkeiten verbinden
— to make (something) intricate — see also complicate
Hungarian:
bonyolít
— to make (something) intricate — see also complicate
Macedonian:
у́сложни
(úsložni)
— to make (something) intricate — see also complicate
Macedonian:
усло́жнува
(uslóžnuva)
— to make (something) intricate — see also complicate
Russian:
запу́тывать
(zapútyvatʹ)
— to make (something) intricate — see also complicate
Russian:
запу́тать
(zapútatʹ)
— to make (something) intricate — see also complicate
Azerbaijani:
qüvvətə yüksəltmək
— to multiply (a number) by itself a given number of times
Czech:
umocnit
— to multiply (a number) by itself a given number of times
Finnish:
nostaa ... potenssiin
— to multiply (a number) by itself a given number of times
Hungarian:
hatványra emel
— to multiply (a number) by itself a given number of times
Italian:
elevare
— to multiply (a number) by itself a given number of times
Portuguese:
elevar
— to multiply (a number) by itself a given number of times
Russian:
возводи́ть в сте́пень
(vozvodítʹ v stépenʹ)
— to multiply (a number) by itself a given number of times
Russian:
возвести́ в сте́пень
(vozvestí v stépenʹ)
— to multiply (a number) by itself a given number of times
Spanish:
elevar
— to multiply (a number) by itself a given number of times
