recruit

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'recruit' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use the word to refer to a person who has been newly enlisted in the military, a new employee just hired by a company, or a person who has been asked to join an organization or cause. Example sentence: The company has recruited five new employees for their marketing team.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

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 writing about talent acquisition, consider using synonyms of "recruit" to avoid repetition and maintain reader engagement.

Common error

Avoid using "recruit" when the intended meaning is simply "hire" for a short-term or temporary position; "recruit" often implies a more involved and long-term process.

Linguistic Context

The word "recruit" functions primarily as a verb, denoting the action of enlisting or engaging new members, employees, or participants. It also functions as a noun, referring to the newly enlisted individual. Ludwig confirms that the word is correct and used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "recruit" functions both as a verb and a noun, signifying the act of enlisting or the newly enlisted individual. Ludwig confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used. Its primary purpose involves attracting and engaging individuals for organizations, teams, or causes, with a neutral register suitable for diverse contexts. Common contexts include news and media, formal business settings, and scientific discussions. When incorporating "recruit" into your writing, it's advisable to vary word choice to maintain reader engagement and to ensure contextual appropriateness to avoid ambiguity. Consider using synonyms such as "hire", "enlist", or "enroll" to enrich your vocabulary and provide more precise meaning where relevant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

enlist

This term is often used specifically in the context of joining the military or other structured organizations.

hire

This word is typically used in the context of employment, referring to the act of bringing someone onto a payroll.

enroll

Often refers to registering or signing up members or participants, particularly for courses or programs.

induct

Suggests a formal admission or introduction into an organization or group.

attract

Focuses on drawing individuals or resources towards something, rather than a formal process of joining.

secure

Implies obtaining or ensuring the availability of something, often through effort or competition.

gather

Denotes the collection or bringing together of people or resources from various sources.

muster

Implies assembling or bringing together people, often for a specific purpose.

take on

This alternative refers to accept or undertake a new responsibility or employ someone.

bring in

This term refers to introducing or involving someone or something new.

FAQs

How can I use "recruit" in a sentence?

You can use "recruit" as a verb meaning to enlist new members or employees, such as, "The company aims to "recruit" top talent this year". It can also be a noun referring to a newly enlisted person, as in, "The new "recruit" reported for duty".

What are some alternatives to the word "recruit"?

Depending on the context, you could use "hire", "enlist", "enroll", or "attract" as alternatives to "recruit".

When is it appropriate to use "recruit" instead of "hire"?

"Recruit" is often used when referring to a more strategic and proactive effort to find suitable candidates, while "hire" generally refers to the act of employing someone. "Recruit" implies an ongoing process of attracting potential employees. /s/recruit /s/hire

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

"Recruit" typically refers to attracting and enlisting individuals for a specific purpose, like a job or military service. "Enroll", on the other hand, usually means registering or signing up for a course, program, or membership.