involved

UK: /ɪnˈvɒlvd/ US: /ɪnˈvɑlvd/ ,(in volvd′)

From the verb involve: (⇒ conjugate)

involved is: ⓘ

v past

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•volved /ɪnˈvɑlvd/   adj. 

1. [be/become + ~] associated in a relationship, esp. a sexual relationship:
   They dated before becoming seriously involved.
2. interested in, preoccupied with, or enthusiastic about something:
   [be + ~] was very involved in his work.
3. being a part of something;
   taking part in something:
   [be + ~] A lot of workers are involved in the strike.
4. complicated;
   complex:
   an involved argument.
See -volv-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•volved  (in volvd′), adj. 

1. very intricate or complex:
   an involved reply.
2. implicated:
   involved in crime.
3. concerned in some affair, esp. in a way likely to cause danger or unpleasantness:
   I didn't call the police because I didn't want to get involved.
4. committed or engaged, as in a political cause or artistic movement:
   The civil rights demonstration attracted the involved young people of the area.

• 1600–10; involve + -ed²

in•volv•ed•ly  (in vol′vid lē, -volvd′-), adv.  in•volv′ed•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. complicated, knotty, tangled, perplexing.

Antonyms

• 1. simple.

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•volve /ɪnˈvɑlv/   v. [not usually: be + ~-ing* ~ + object] , -volved, -volv•ing. 

1. to include or use (something) as a necessary part, circumstance, condition, or end result:
   This job involves long hours.
2. to cause (someone) to be connected with, associated with, or otherwise concerned with:
   Don't involve me in your quarrel.
3. to stimulate or engage the interests or emotions of:
   The play involved the audience deeply.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•volve  (in volv′), v.t., -volved, -volv•ing. 

1. to include as a necessary circumstance, condition, or consequence;
   imply;
   entail:
   This job involves long hours and hard work.
2. to engage or employ.
3. to affect, as something within the scope of operation.
4. to include, contain, or comprehend within itself or its scope.
5. to bring into an intricate or complicated form or condition.
6. to bring into difficulties (usually fol. by with):
   a plot to involve one nation in a war with another.
7. to cause to be troublesomely associated or concerned, as in something embarrassing or unfavorable:
   Don't involve me in your quarrel!
8. to combine inextricably (usually fol. by with).
9. to implicate, as in guilt or crime, or in any matter or affair.
10. to engage the interests or emotions or commitment of:
    to become involved in the disarmament movement; to become involved with another woman.
11. to preoccupy or absorb fully (usually used passively or reflexively):
    You are much too involved with the problem to see it clearly.
12. to envelop or enfold, as if with a wrapping.
13. to swallow up, engulf, or overwhelm.
14. • [Archaic.] to roll, surround, or shroud, as in a wrapping.
    • to roll up on itself;
      wind spirally;
      coil;
      wreathe.

• Latin involvere to roll in or up, equivalent. to in- in-² + volvere to roll; see revolve
• Middle English involven 1350–1400

in•volve′ment, n. 
in•volv′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. necessitate, require, demand.
• 6, 7.
• 9. Involve, entangle, implicate imply getting a person connected or bound up with something from which it is difficult to extricate himself or herself. To involve is to bring more or less deeply into something, esp. of a complicated, embarrassing, or troublesome nature:
  to involve someone in debt.
  To entangle (usually passive or reflexive) is to involve so deeply in a tangle as to confuse and make helpless:
  to entangle oneself in a mass of contradictory statements.
  To implicate is to connect a person with something discreditable or wrong:
  implicated in a plot.

Antonyms

• 7. extricate.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

involve / ɪnˈvɒlv/ verb (transitive)

1. to include or contain as a necessary part
2. to have an effect on; spread to: the investigation involved many innocent people
3. (often passive; usually followed by in or with) to concern or associate significantly: many people were involved in the crime
4. (often passive) to make complicated; tangle
5. to wrap or surround
6. to raise to a specified power

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin involvere to roll in, surround, from in-² + volvere to roll

inˈvolvement noun

inˈvolver noun