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

"It also recruits naturally occurring antibodies to fight the virus."

From Science Daily

The losses are compounded by the “meat grinder” approach said to be favoured by Russian commanders - describing the waves of recruits thrown towards Ukrainian positions in a bid to exhaust troops.

From BBC

For example, it calls for getting rid of a provision that has allowed EPA to recruit scientists at salaries above the government pay scale for 5-year renewable contracts.

From Science Magazine

Noting that he had been involved in the rivalry as a recruit, player and assistant coach, Foster said he was eager for his debut as a head coach.

From Los Angeles Times

The company has worked with BaronHR, a staffing agency that has come under scrutiny from federal agencies for alleged abuses of workers it recruits for warehouses, factories and distribution center jobs in California and elsewhere.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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