reenlist

verb

re·​en·​list (ˌ)rē-in-ˈlist How to pronounce reenlist (audio)
-en-
variants or re-enlist
reenlisted or re-enlisted; reenlisting or re-enlisting
1
transitive : to enlist (someone) again
… watched as Bickers's platoon leader reenlisted him for another two years.Paula Broadwell and Vernon Loeb
2
intransitive : to enlist again
decided to reenlist in/with the Navy
… had recently emerged from the ranks of the Royal Army Medical Corps, in which he had re-enlisted two years after the end of the second war.Anthony Powell

Examples of reenlist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Initially sunk and abandoned after sustaining substantial battle damage, Japanese forces managed to raise the destroyer, repair it, and reenlist it against America as a naval convoy escort. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Oct. 2024 Arkansas' senators did support an amendment allowing service members to reenlist after refusing to get vaccinated for the coronavirus. Alex Thomas, Arkansas Online, 16 Dec. 2022 About 800,000 students and workers, on Friday alone, across the country expressed a desire to enlist or reenlist in the military to counter the United States, the Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported. Reuters, NBC News, 18 Mar. 2023 About 800,000 students and workers, on Friday alone, across the country expressed a desire to enlist or reenlist in the military to counter the United States, North Korea’s state newspaper Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported on Saturday. Reuters, CNN, 18 Mar. 2023 There was a 10% shortfall in the number of current Army National Guard soldiers who opted to reenlist. Julia Musto, Fox News, 8 Oct. 2022 The annual recruiting goal fluctuates as currently serving soldiers decide whether to reenlist or leave. Fox News, 13 Jan. 2022 The military asked veterans to reenlist. Washington Post, 6 Nov. 2021 They were also not permitted to reenlist. Li Cohen, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of reenlist was in 1775

Dictionary Entries Near reenlist

Cite this Entry

“Reenlist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reenlist. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on reenlist

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!