embark

1 of 2

verb

em·​bark im-ˈbärk How to pronounce embark (audio)
embarked; embarking; embarks
Synonyms of embark

intransitive verb

1
: to go on board a vehicle for transportation
the troops embarked at noon
2
: to make a start
embarked on a new career

transitive verb

1
: to cause to go on board (a boat, an airplane, etc.)
2
: to engage, enlist, or invest in an enterprise
embarkation
ˌem-ˌbär-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce embark (audio)
-bər-
noun
embarkment
im-ˈbärk-mənt How to pronounce embark (audio)
noun

embarkment

2 of 2

noun

em·​bark·​ment ə̇mˈbärkmənt How to pronounce embarkment (audio)
em-, 
-bȧk-
plural -s
: embarkation sense 1a

Synonyms of embark

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Verb

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Examples of embark in a Sentence

Verb The troops are waiting to embark. Millions of Europeans embarked for America in the late 19th century.
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.
Verb
Conor O’Neill Ipswich Town Set to embark on their first season without manager Kieran McKenna since 2021, this Ipswich team feel more prepared for Premier League football than the one relegated from the top flight two seasons ago. — Luke Bosher, New York Times, 31 July 2026 While the tour was ultimately halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Cassidy embarked on a massive tour last year that visited 57 different cities across North America. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 29 July 2026 Before embarking, employees must secure employer approval, understanding company policies on location and duration. — Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 As violence closes in, both embark on a journey into the depths of the mangroves, where reality and myth intertwine, exposing the invisible structures of power that govern their world. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for embark

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle French embarquer, from Old Occitan embarcar, from em- (from Latin in-) + barca bark

Noun

Middle French embarquement, from embarquer + -ment

First Known Use

Verb

1533, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of embark was in 1533

Phrases Containing embark

Rhymes for embark

See All Rhymes for embark

Browse Nearby Words

embargo
embark
embarkation
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Embark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/embark. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

embark

verb
em·​bark im-ˈbärk How to pronounce embark (audio)
1
: to go or put on board a ship or airplane
2
: to begin some task or project
embark on a career
embarkation
ˌem-ˌbär-ˈkā-shən How to pronounce embark (audio)
noun
embarkment
im-ˈbärk-mənt How to pronounce embark (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on embark

Nglish: Translation of embark for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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