Enlist vs. List — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on May 3, 2024
"Enlist" primarily refers to joining or recruiting, especially in a military context, whereas "list" involves itemizing or enumerating details.
Difference Between Enlist and List
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Key Differences
When someone uses the verb "enlist," it typically implies a commitment or joining, often with a formal or serious undertone, such as joining the military or committing to a cause. On the other hand, "list" simply refers to creating a sequence or a record of items, which can be tasks, names, objects, etc., without implying any commitment or action beyond documentation.
"Enlist" can also denote the act of securing cooperation or assistance, suggesting an active effort to involve others. Whereas "list" is passive, focusing solely on the act of enumeration without the connotation of interaction or engagement.
In terms of usage, "enlist" is a verb that often requires an object; one enlists someone or something. On the other hand, "list" can function as both a noun and a verb, offering versatility in speech and writing, such as making a list or listing items.
The context in which "enlist" is used often relates to personal or collective involvement and carries a sense of duty or urgency. In contrast, "list" is typically utilitarian and practical, used in everyday contexts from grocery shopping to academic research.
From a grammatical perspective, "enlist" frequently appears with prepositions like 'in' or 'into' to denote the area of involvement, e.g., enlist in the army. Meanwhile, "list" often comes with prepositions like 'of' when used as a noun, e.g., a list of groceries, and may stand alone as a verb.
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Comparison Chart
Meaning
To join or recruit, especially in a military context
To itemize or enumerate details
Usage
Verb, often requires an object
Noun and verb, versatile in usage
Context
Involvement, commitment
Practical, everyday use
Prepositions
Often used with 'in' or 'into'
Uses 'of' when a noun; verb can stand alone
Connotation
Active involvement
Passive enumeration
Compare with Definitions
Enlist
Requires an action of commitment.
They enlisted his help for the fundraising event.
List
To make an itemized series of items.
She made a list of all attendees.
Enlist
To join the military.
He decided to enlist in the navy.
List
A record or catalogue.
The document contained a list of every transaction.
Enlist
To engage or persuade someone to become involved.
We need to enlist some volunteers for the project.
List
To enumerate details in a specific order.
He listed the ingredients needed for the recipe.
Enlist
To commit to a cause or effort.
She enlisted in the fight against climate change.
List
Can function as a noun describing the enumeration.
Check the shopping list before you go to the store.
Enlist
Often involves a formal or serious commitment.
After much thought, he enlisted for service.
List
Used in various contexts from casual to formal.
The professor listed the key points of the lecture.
Enlist
Enrol or be enrolled in the armed services
He enlisted in the Royal Naval Air Service
Hundreds of thousands of recruits had been enlisted
List
A series of names, words, or other items written, printed, or imagined one after the other
A shopping list.
A guest list.
A list of things to do.
Enlist
To engage (persons or a person) for service in the armed forces.
List
A considerable number; a long series
Recited a list of dates memorized.
Enlist
To engage the support or cooperation of.
List
A narrow strip, especially of wood.
Enlist
To enter the armed forces, especially by choice.
List
(Architecture) See listel.
Enlist
To participate actively in a cause or enterprise.
List
A border or selvage of cloth.
Enlist
(transitive) To enter on a list; to enroll; to register.
List
A stripe or band of color.
Enlist
(intransitive) To voluntarily join a cause or organization, especially military service.
The army wants potential soldiers to enlist.
List
Often lists An arena for jousting tournaments or other contests.
Enlist
(transitive) To recruit the aid or membership of others.
We enlisted fifty new members.
List
A place of combat.
Enlist
(transitive) To secure; to obtain.
They enlisted the government's support.
List
An area of controversy.
Enlist
One who is enlisted, usually in a military service.
List
A ridge thrown up between two furrows by a lister in plowing.
Enlist
To enter on a list; to enroll; to register.
List
(Obsolete) A boundary; a border.
Enlist
To engage for military or naval service, the name being entered on a list or register; as, to enlist men.
List
An inclination to one side, as of a ship; a tilt.
Enlist
To secure the support and aid of; to employ in advancing interest; as, to enlist persons in the cause of truth, or in a charitable enterprise.
List
A desire or inclination.
Enlist
To enroll and bind one's self for military or naval service; as, he enlisted in the regular army; the men enlisted for the war.
List
To make a list of; itemize
Listed his previous jobs.
Enlist
To enter heartily into a cause, as if enrolled.
List
To enter in a list; register
Listed each item received.
Enlist
Join the military
List
To put (oneself) in a specific category
Lists herself as an artist.
Enlist
As of aid, help, services, or support
List
(Archaic) To recruit.
Enlist
Engage somebody to enter the army
List
To have a stated list price
A radio that lists for ten dollars over the sale price.
List
(Archaic) To enlist in the armed forces.
List
To cover, line, or edge with list.
List
To cut a thin strip from the edge of.
List
To furrow or plant (land) with a lister.
List
To lean or cause to lean to the side
The damaged ship listed badly to starboard. Erosion first listed, then toppled the spruce tree.
List
To listen or listen to.
List
To be pleasing to; suit.
List
To be disposed; choose.
List
A strip of fabric, especially from the edge of a piece of cloth.
List
Material used for cloth selvage.
List
A register or roll of paper consisting of a compilation or enumeration of a set of possible items; the compilation or enumeration itself.
List
The barriers or palisades used to fence off a space for jousting or tilting tournaments.
List
The scene of a military contest; the ground or field of combat; an enclosed space that serves as a battlefield; the site of a pitched battle.
List
A codified representation of a list used to store data or in processing; especially, in the Lisp programming language, a data structure consisting of a sequence of zero or more items.
List
(architecture) A little square moulding; a fillet or listel.
List
(carpentry) A narrow strip of wood, especially sapwood, cut from the edge of a board or plank.
List
(ropemaking) A piece of woollen cloth with which the yarns are grasped by a worker.
List
(tin-plate manufacture) The first thin coating of tin; a wire-like rim of tin left on an edge of the plate after it is coated.
List
(obsolete) A stripe.
List
(obsolete) A boundary or limit; a border.
List
(archaic) Art; craft; cunning; skill.
List
(obsolete) Desire, inclination.
List
(architecture) A tilt to a building.
List
(nautical) A careening or tilting to one side, usually not intentionally or under a vessel's own power.
List
(transitive) To create or recite a list.
List
(transitive) To place in listings.
List
(transitive) To sew together, as strips of cloth, so as to make a show of colours, or to form a border.
List
(transitive) To cover with list, or with strips of cloth; to put list on; to stripe as if with list.
To list a door
List
To plough and plant with a lister.
List
To prepare (land) for a cotton crop by making alternating beds and alleys with a hoe.
List
To cut away a narrow strip, as of sapwood, from the edge of.
To list a board
List
To enclose (a field, etc.) for combat.
List
To engage a soldier, etc.; to enlist.
List
To engage in public service by enrolling one's name; to enlist.
List
To give a building of architectural or historical interest listed status; see also the adjective listed.
List
To listen.
List
To listen to.
List
To be pleasing to.
List
To desire, like, or wish (to do something).
List
To cause (something) to tilt to one side.
The steady wind listed the ship
List
To tilt to one side.
The ship listed to port
List
A line inclosing or forming the extremity of a piece of ground, or field of combat; hence, in the plural (lists), the ground or field inclosed for a race or combat.
In measured lists to toss the weighty lance.
List
Inclination; desire.
List
An inclination to one side; as, the ship has a list to starboard.
List
A strip forming the woven border or selvedge of cloth, particularly of broadcloth, and serving to strengthen it; hence, a strip of cloth; a fillet.
List
A limit or boundary; a border.
The very list, the very utmost bound,Of all our fortunes.
List
The lobe of the ear; the ear itself.
List
A stripe.
List
A roll or catalogue, that is, row or line; a record of names; as, a list of names, books, articles; a list of ratable estate.
He was the ablest emperor of all the list.
List
A little square molding; a fillet; - called also listel.
List
A narrow strip of wood, esp. sapwood, cut from the edge of a plank or board.
List
A piece of woolen cloth with which the yarns are grasped by a workman.
List
The first thin coat of tin.
List
To inclose for combat; as, to list a field.
List
To hearken; to attend; to listen.
Stand close, and list to him.
List
To listen or hearken to.
Then weigh what loss your honor may sustain,If with too credent ear you list his songs.
List
To desire or choose; to please.
The wind bloweth where it listeth.
Them that add to the Word of God what them listeth.
Let other men think of your devices as they list.
List
To lean; to incline; as, the ship lists to port.
List
To sew together, as strips of cloth, so as to make a show of colors, or form a border.
List
To cover with list, or with strips of cloth; to put list on; as, to list a door; to stripe as if with list.
The tree that stood white-listed through the gloom.
List
To enroll; to place or register in a list.
Listed among the upper serving men.
List
To engage, as a soldier; to enlist.
I will list you for my soldier.
List
To cut away a narrow strip, as of sapwood, from the edge of; as, to list a board.
List
To engage in public service by enrolling one's name; to enlist.
List
To plow and plant with a lister.
List
In cotton culture, to prepare, as land, for the crop by making alternating beds and alleys with the hoe.
List
A database containing an ordered array of items (names or topics)
List
The property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the vertical;
The tower had a pronounced tilt
The ship developed a list to starboard
He walked with a heavy inclination to the right
List
Give or make a list of; name individually; give the names of;
List the states west of the Mississippi
List
Include in a list;
Am I listed in your register?
List
Enumerate;
We must number the names of the great mathematicians
List
Cause to lean to the side;
Erosion listed the old tree
List
Tilt to one side;
The balloon heeled over
The wind made the vessel heel
The ship listed to starboard
Common Curiosities
What are the grammatical differences between "enlist" and "list"?
"Enlist" is primarily a verb requiring an object, while "list" can be both a noun and a verb.
How is "list" commonly used in everyday language?
As a verb, it means to enumerate items sequentially; as a noun, it refers to the record of such items.
Is there a formal aspect to using "enlist"?
Yes, "enlist" often carries a formal or serious connotation, especially when related to commitment or duty.
What does it mean to enlist in the army?
To formally register or join the military service.
Can "enlist" be used outside of a military context?
Yes, it can also mean securing someone's help or commitment in a non-military effort.
Can "list" imply any form of commitment?
No, "list" is neutral, focusing on documentation without implying further action or commitment.
How do "enlist" and "list" differ in terms of engagement?
"Enlist" implies active involvement and engagement, while "list" is about documenting or itemizing without active engagement.
What prepositions are commonly used with "enlist" and "list"?
"Enlist" often uses 'in' or 'into' (enlist in the army), while "list" as a noun uses 'of' (a list of items), and as a verb stands alone (list the items).
What type of action does "enlist" suggest?
It suggests an action of commitment or persuading others to commit to a cause or activity.
How can "list" be used in professional settings?
For documenting tasks, items, or requirements, such as in meetings or project management.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
