Recruit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Recruit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of enlisting or hiring someone for a job or position, often in a professional or organizational context. Example: "We are looking to recruit new talent to join our growing team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

More on university marketing: How to recruit and attract savvy students – five tips Uni recruitment: one fifth of students say social media doesn't work This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional.

The Guardian

A Labour source said that, given teenagers have a "tremendous vested interest in whether or not we stay in the EU or leave", there could be a strong appetite for amending the EU referendum bill in the Lords, even if Labour and the SNP fail to recruit the relatively small number of Tory rebels they would need to defeat the government in the Commons.

The Guardian

In 2002 Art Solidari won a €15,000 prize from the city council and that allowed Blasco and López to employ a part-time co-ordinator, the NGO's only paid employee, to recruit and manage the volunteers and the workshops they run.

The Guardian

Yet even when the security forces did actually recruit or send agents of the state into real terrorist organisations in the north of Ireland they too all too often crossed the line and broke the law.

The Guardian

Police are investigating complaints from four campaigners who say they felt intimidated by covert officers who tried to recruit them as informants.

The Guardian

Star Lions recruit Dayne Beams also saw plenty of the football, amassing a game-high 32 disposals in his first match since his protracted move from Collingwood late last year - but he only kicked the ball seven times, and was minded closely by Taylor Adams for most of the night.

The Guardian - Sport

Nor, surely, were they quite ready to ask themselves exactly the value of their newest recruit.

The Guardian - Sport

It will also give power to any future finance minister to recruit "special managers" who could take over any troubled bank in the future and have the ability to sack directors and overrule shareholders.

The Guardian - Business

They had to recruit and train many unskilled Sierra Leonean staff to work as hygienists and in other support roles.

The Guardian

I reckoned we couldn't recruit and train a medical team in the time frame.

The Guardian

The 20-year-old had tormented Watford's defenders with the speed, directness and penetrative qualities that reaffirmed why United have already spent £15m to recruit him for next season.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "recruit", consider the context to ensure it aligns with the intended meaning. It is suitable for both formal and informal settings but is most effective when referring to a structured process of enlisting or hiring individuals.

Common error

Avoid using "recruit" interchangeably with simply "hiring" in contexts where a formal enlistment or structured process is not involved. Instead of saying "We recruited a babysitter", consider "We hired a babysitter" to better reflect the nature of the engagement.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "recruit" is as a transitive verb, indicating the action of enlisting or hiring individuals, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples. It can also function as a noun, referring to a newly enlisted member.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Sport

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "recruit" is a versatile term primarily functioning as a transitive verb, denoting the strategic effort to enlist or hire individuals for an organization or cause. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and frequently used, maintaining a neutral to professional tone. Its usage spans across news, business, and sports contexts. When using "recruit", consider its scope to ensure it aligns with the intended meaning, and explore synonyms like "hire" or "enlist" to best fit the specific context. Understanding its function, purpose, and register will enhance clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Hire

This is a direct synonym, often used in a business context to indicate employing someone.

Enlist

This term often applies to military or voluntary service contexts.

Employ

A more formal term for hiring someone for a job.

Sign up

Indicates the act of registering or joining a group or service.

Take on

Implies accepting someone into a team or organization.

Induct

Formal term for officially admitting someone into an organization or position.

Appoint

To assign a role or position, often with authority.

Nominate

Suggest someone for a role or position.

Onboard

The process of integrating a new employee into an organization.

Secure

Acquire the services or commitment of someone.

FAQs

How to use "recruit" in a sentence?

You can use "recruit" in sentences like, "The company plans to recruit more engineers this quarter" or "The military is trying to recruit new soldiers". The term implies a structured effort to enlist or hire.

What can I say instead of "recruit"?

You can use alternatives like "hire", "enlist", or "employ" depending on the context. Each alternative has a slightly different nuance.

Which is correct, "recruit" or "hire"?

Both "recruit" and "hire" are correct, but they have different connotations. "Recruit" suggests a more active and strategic effort to find candidates, while "hire" is a more general term for employing someone.

What's the difference between "recruit" and "employ"?

"Recruit" refers to the process of finding and attracting potential candidates, while "employ" refers to the act of hiring someone to work for an organization. You "recruit" to then "employ".