recruit

[ ri-kroot ]

noun

1. a newly enlisted or drafted member of the armed forces.
2. a new member of a group, organization, or the like.
3. a fresh supply of something.

verb (used with object)

1. to enlist (a person) for service in one of the armed forces.
2. to raise (a force) by enlistment.
3. to strengthen or supply (an armed force) with new members.
4. to furnish or replenish with a fresh supply; renew.
5. to renew or restore (the health, strength, etc.).
6. to attempt to acquire the services of (a person) for an employer:

   She recruits executives for all the top companies.

7. to attempt to enroll or enlist (a member, affiliate, student, or the like):

   a campaign to recruit new club members.

8. to seek to enroll (an athlete) at a school or college, often with an offer of an athletic scholarship.

verb (used without object)

1. to enlist persons for service in one of the armed forces.
2. to engage in finding and attracting employees, new members, students, athletes, etc.
3. to recover health, strength, etc.
4. to gain new supplies of anything lost or wasted.

recruit

/ rɪˈkruːt /

verb

1. 1. to enlist (men) for military service
   2. to raise or strengthen (an army, navy, etc) by enlistment
2. tr to enrol or obtain (members, support, etc)
3. to furnish or be furnished with a fresh supply; renew
4. archaic.
   to recover (health, strength, spirits, etc)

noun

1. a newly joined member of a military service
2. any new member or supporter

Derived Forms

• reˈcruitment, noun
• reˈcruiter, noun
• reˈcruitable, adjective

Other Words From

• re·cruit·a·ble adjective
• re·cruit·er noun
• un·re·cruit·a·ble adjective
• un·re·cruit·ed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of recruit¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from French, stem of recruter, derivative of recrue “new growth,” noun use of feminine past participle of recroître ( re- re- + croître, from Latin crēscere “to grow”; crescent )

Word History and Origins

Origin of recruit¹

C17: from French recrute literally: new growth, from recroître to grow again, from Latin recrēscere from re- + crēscere to grow

Example Sentences

The financial pressures on universities could lead to very visible changes such as institutions focusing on a smaller number of courses to which they can recruit well.

From BBC

So I think your chance to recruit a high school guy like an Eric Freeny that’s going to be with you for a long time, that’s your chance maybe to still do it like the old days.

From Los Angeles Times

It is perhaps not a coincidence that when Vi and Caitlyn finally consummate their relationship, the literal seduction is linked to Vi’s figurative succumbing to Caitlyn’s politics: She accepts the badge, with all of the raw emotion of a zealous new recruit to a supposedly noble cause.

From Salon

Riding shotgun was USC baseball coach Rod Dedeaux, as the hulking Munoz was also a prized baseball recruit who pitched for the Trojans on a national championship team.

From Los Angeles Times

The high school star from San Diego will never forget the night John Robinson rolled up to recruit him to USC.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• call up
• draft
• engage
• enlist
• enroll
• improve
• mobilize
• raise
• round up
• select