enroll

American  

[en-rohl] / ɛnˈroʊl /

especially British, enrol

verb (used with object)

enrolled, enrolling

1. to write the name of (a person) in a roll or register; place upon a list; register.

   It took two days to enroll the new students.

2. to enlist (oneself ).

3. to put in a record; record.

   to enroll the minutes of a meeting; to enroll the great events of history.

4. to roll or wrap up.

   fruit enrolled in tissue paper.

5. Nautical. to document (a U.S. vessel) by issuing a certificate of enrollment.

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verb (used without object)

enrolled, enrolling

1. to enroll oneself.

   He enrolled in college last week.

Other Word Forms

• enroller noun
• preenroll verb
• reenroll verb

Etymology

Origin of enroll

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English enrollen, from Old French enroller. See en- ¹, roll

Explanation

If you like clowning around but you're not quite ready for the circus, you could enroll in clown college to perfect your skills. When you enroll, that means you formally add your name to the list — or roll — of students. You can enroll in things other than schools or classes, and you can also enroll someone else. You might enroll your Chihuahua in a research project investigating whether dogs like to wear hats, or you could enroll your rude nephew in charm school. The "roll" of enroll goes back to the rolls of parchment that were used in medieval times for writing official documents.

Example Sentences

But they failed to ask why only 20 airports—less than 5% of U.S. commercial service airports—have chosen to enroll in the SPP over the past two decades.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Another bogus claim is that senior citizens have to enroll or pay a processing fee to get the new $6,000 deduction.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 9, 2026

Each district must determine whether a child who is kindergarten age — 5 years old — qualifies to enroll in TK, which is geared for 4-year-olds, according to the California Department of Education.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

The uncertainty has led her to enroll back in university, hoping to find a different job—or even leave the province.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

And the Truman students who enroll at more expensive colleges—even solid but not exclusive institutions like Temple University in Philadelphia—often must take out tens of thousands of dollars in loans.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

Related Words

• accept
• admit
• employ
• engage
• enlist
• enter
• join
• obtain
• recruit
• register