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
- affect
- concern
- touch
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Because temperature readings often involve direct contact with a sick person, thermometers should be cleaned before and after each use. 
Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2022 Hundreds of thousands of Americans tear this index-finger-size ligament annually, often during activities that involve sudden stops and changes in direction like soccer or downhill skiing. Aylin Woodward, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 There are lots of tips to stay cool, but a lot of them involve using some electricity. Jessica Roy, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Projects that involve economically disadvantaged individuals and businesses owned by minorities, veterans, or women, or that are based in rural areas, will be prioritized, the department said. BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2022 The plan is to take the new format to the open market and possibly involve multiple TV partners instead of just ESPN. Larry Lage, ajc, 5 Sep. 2022 The plan is to take the new format to the open market and possibly involve multiple TV partners instead of just ESPN. Larry Lage, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2022 Incidents of physical abuse are also 12 times more likely to be deadly when a firearm is involved, as in the deaths of Jacius and Ashworth, and 75 percent of murder-suicides involve firearms. Taylor Hartz, Hartford Courant, 4 Sep. 2022 DeWees added that many threats may not directly involve students or may evolve from a rumor disseminated among the community or even nationwide, many times via social media. Baltimore Sun, 3 Sep. 2022 See More
Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2022 Hundreds of thousands of Americans tear this index-finger-size ligament annually, often during activities that involve sudden stops and changes in direction like soccer or downhill skiing. Aylin Woodward, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 There are lots of tips to stay cool, but a lot of them involve using some electricity. Jessica Roy, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Projects that involve economically disadvantaged individuals and businesses owned by minorities, veterans, or women, or that are based in rural areas, will be prioritized, the department said. BostonGlobe.com, 6 Sep. 2022 The plan is to take the new format to the open market and possibly involve multiple TV partners instead of just ESPN. Larry Lage, ajc, 5 Sep. 2022 The plan is to take the new format to the open market and possibly involve multiple TV partners instead of just ESPN. Larry Lage, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2022 Incidents of physical abuse are also 12 times more likely to be deadly when a firearm is involved, as in the deaths of Jacius and Ashworth, and 75 percent of murder-suicides involve firearms. Taylor Hartz, Hartford Courant, 4 Sep. 2022 DeWees added that many threats may not directly involve students or may evolve from a rumor disseminated among the community or even nationwide, many times via social media. Baltimore Sun, 3 Sep. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
involve
verb
in·volve in-ˈvälv
-ˈvȯlv
involved; involving
1
: to draw into a situation : engage
The teacher involved her students in the project.
2
: to take part in
I'm not involved in the planning.
3
: include
The accident involved three cars.
4
: to be accompanied by
The plan involves some risk.
5
: to have or take the attention of completely
He was deeply involved in his work.
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
involving 1 of 2
adjective
as in engaging
holding the attention or provoking interest an involving book that you won't be able to put down Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- engaging
- interesting
- intriguing
- absorbing
- fascinating
- consuming
- gripping
- exciting
- immersing
- arresting
- riveting
- enthralling
- provocative
- engrossing
- entertaining
- inspiring
- amusing
- electric
- unusual
- amazing
- thrilling
- electrifying
- stimulating
- galvanizing
- striking
- enchanting
- attractive
- rousing
- stirring
- exhilarating
- breathtaking
- tantalizing
- captivating
- charming
- astonishing
- showy
- bewitching
- surprising
- alluring
- spellbinding
- hypnotizing
- eventful
- mesmerizing
- wondrous
- curious
- astounding
- emphatic
- odd
- wonderful
- weird
- splashy
- marvelous
- marvellous
- fabulous
- eye-opening
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- heavy
- tedious
- uninteresting
- dry
- boring
- tiresome
- monotonous
- wearisome
- dull
- tiring
- drab
- sterile
- discouraging
- unexciting
- pedestrian
- wearying
- demoralizing
- operose
- humdrum
- disheartening
- pedantic
- dreary
- dispiriting
involving
2 of 2verb
1
as in affecting
to be the business or affair of this isn't something that involves you, so don't worry about it Synonyms & Similar Words
- affecting
- concerning
- touching
- implicating
- embroiling
- ensnaring
- entangling
- relating (to)
- applying (to)
- appertaining (to)
- pertaining (to)
- bearing (on)
- referring (to)
2
as in including
to have as part of a whole a tragic play usually involves a number of plot devices, including the hero's fatal flaw Synonyms & Similar Words
- including
- containing
- encompassing
- entailing
- carrying
- comprising
- subsuming
- comprehending
- embracing
- numbering
- incorporating
- taking in
- receiving
- having
- possessing
- owning
- constituting
- integrating
- forming
- bracketing
- holding
- composing
- embodying
- admitting
- making
- assimilating
- consisting (of)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- excluding
- preventing
- prohibiting
- omitting
- precluding
- leaving (out)
- banning
- barring
- denying
- eliminating
- rejecting
- excepting
- refusing
- missing out
- losing
- debarring
- misplacing
- ruling out
- mislaying
3
as in interesting
to hold the attention of her blissful daydream so completely involved her that she never heard the knock on the door Synonyms & Similar Words
- interesting
- occupying
- immersing
- intriguing
- attracting
- fascinating
- engaging
- gripping
- busying
- absorbing
- engrossing
- distracting
- preoccupying
- enchanting
- enthralling
- enwrapping
- captivating
- obsessing
- bemusing
- hypnotizing
- catching one's eye
- monopolizing
- charming
- catching up
- bewitching
- alluring
- mesmerizing
- hogging
- beguiling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- tiring
- wearying
- boring
- palling
- jading
4
as in wrapping
to surround or cover closely a mind that was deeply involved in doubt about his wife's fidelity Synonyms & Similar Words
- wrapping
- enveloping
- encompassing
- shrouding
- enclosing
- encasing
- embracing
- embedding
- bowering
- encircling
- enfolding
- draping
- embowering
- enshrouding
- veiling
- muffling
- swathing
- investing
- bosoming
- lapping
- enwrapping
- mantling
- cocooning
- embosoming
- enswathing
- circling
- inclosing
- circumfusing
- cloaking
- overlaying
- disguising
- curtaining
- masking
- blanketing
- imbedding
- camouflaging
- swaddling
- enwinding
- overspreading
- enlacing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- exposing
- stripping
- baring
- denuding