Meaning & use
entails
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“entails” is a form of “entail”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Makes something necessary or brings it as a result.
Grammar: Takes an object, often a noun or an -ing form: The job entails travel.
Patterns
- entail something
- entail doing something
- entail that something happens
Taking this job would entail moving to another city.
The repair work entails replacing the whole roof.
Being team leader entails a lot of responsibility.
verbtransitivetechnical
In logic, means that one statement must be true whenever another is true.
Grammar: Takes an object; used about statements, propositions or claims.
Patterns
- entail something
- entail that something is true
In logic, 'She is a doctor' entails that she has medical training.
If the first claim is true, it entails the second.
Word forms
| base form | entail |
|---|---|
| third person singular | entails |
| past tense | entailed |
| past participle | entailed |
| -ing form | entailing |
Common combinations
- entail a risk
- Driving in heavy snow entails a real risk of an accident.
- entail costs
- The new rules entail extra costs for small businesses.
- entail a lot of work
- Organizing the festival entails a lot of work.
- entail considerable effort
- Learning a language entails considerable effort over time.
- necessarily entail
- A high price does not necessarily entail high quality.
Synonyms and how they differ
- involve
- Very close in meaning and often used the same way, but 'involve' is more common in everyday speech, while 'entail' sounds more formal and academic.
- require
- Focuses on something being needed as a condition; 'entail' focuses on what naturally follows or comes with an activity.
- mean
- More general and informal; 'mean' can suggest a result or a sign, while 'entail' stresses something that must come with it.
Word family
- entailment noun
- Something that is involved or required as a result; also a technical term in logic.
Commonly confused: entails or entitle? entails or detail?
entails vs entitle
'Entitle' means to give someone a right to something, as in 'This ticket entitles you to a free drink'; 'entail' is about what something involves or requires.
entails vs detail
'Detail' means to give full information about something; it sounds similar but has a completely different meaning from 'entail'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'entails' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Entails' means something involves or requires something, so 'Running a restaurant entails long hours' fits. Option 0 confuses it with 'trains' or 'greets', option 2 confuses it with 'keeps', and option 3 confuses it with 'entitles'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “entails”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.