What is recruit? Pronunciation and usage in English

recruit means . Learn how to pronounce and use recruit through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of recruit

recruitverb

/rɪˈkruːt/
Definition & pronunciation of recruit

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "recruit." It's a bit tricky because it's not always pronounced the same way depending on where you are. Here's a breakdown of the most common pronunciations:

1. American English (Most Common):

  • Pronunciation: /ˈrɪˌkruːt/ (rhymes with "kite" or "light")
  • Breakdown:
    • re-: Sounds like "re" as in "red"
    • -cruit: This is the tricky part. It's pronounced like "kruht" – a short "uh" sound followed by "ht" (as in "hat"). The "c" is silent.

2. British English (Common):

  • Pronunciation: /rɪˈkruːt/ (rhymes with "meet")
  • Breakdown:
    • re-: Sounds like "re" as in "red"
    • -cruit: This is pronounced like "kruht," similar to American English, but with a slightly more emphasized "uh". The "c" is silent. The stress is on the second syllable.

Tips for getting it right:

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Usage and examples with the word recruit in English

Let's break down how to use the word "recruit" in English. It has several different meanings and uses, so understanding the context is key.

1. To Hire or Enlist (Most Common)

  • Meaning: This is the most frequent usage. It means to actively seek out and hire people for a job, position, or team. It also applies to military enlistment.
  • Examples:
    • "We need to recruit more salespeople to meet our sales goals." (Hiring)
    • "The army is recruiting new volunteers for the overseas deployment." (Enlisting)
    • "The company is looking to recruit talented engineers." (Hiring)
    • "The football team is trying to recruit star players." (Hiring)

2. To Attract or Bring Something into a Group

  • Meaning: "Recruit" can be used metaphorically to describe bringing something into a group, system, or situation. It’s about gaining something, not just people.
  • Examples:
    • "The new marketing campaign is designed to recruit more customers." (Attract customers)
    • "The museum is working to recruit more volunteers to help with events." (Gain volunteers)
    • "The training program aimed to recruit significant interest in the field." (Generate interest)

3. To Discover or Find (Less Common)

  • Meaning: Sometimes, "recruit" means to discover or find something needed or lacking. This usage is less common.
  • Example:
    • “We need to recruit a better font for our website.” (Find/discover a better font). This is a slightly more formal and less typical way to use the word.

Phrases Using "Recruit":

  • Recruit talent: To find and hire talented individuals.
  • Recruit volunteers: To attract people to volunteer their time.
  • Recruit interest: To generate enthusiasm or interest in something.
  • Recruit members: To join a group or organization.
  • Recruitment drive: A campaign to actively seek new members or employees.

Synonyms (Words with similar meanings):

  • Hire
  • Enlist
  • Attract
  • Obtain
  • Acquire

Tips for Using "Recruit" Correctly:

  • Consider the context: The meaning of "recruit" depends heavily on the situation.
  • Be specific: Instead of just saying "we need to recruit," specify what you're recruiting for (e.g., "we need to recruit marketing specialists").

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  • Do you have a specific sentence you're trying to use "recruit" in?

Synonyms for the word recruit

Practice with vocabulary recruit

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The technology startup aims to ______ several experienced developers to expand its product team.
  2. Universities actively ______ international students through various scholarship programs.
  3. Candidates must ______ for the position online before the application deadline.
  4. Effective managers know how to motivate and ______ the skills of their existing workforce.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. The firm is looking to ______ several graduates for its management trainee program. (a) dismiss (b) recruit (c) delegate (d) promote (e) hire

  2. The successful ______ of diverse candidates is crucial for innovation. (a) rejection (b) recruitment (c) retention (d) selection (e) dismissal

  3. Organizations must constantly ______ volunteers to support their community initiatives. (a) retain (b) attract (c) dismiss (d) recruit (e) inform

  4. The Human Resources department is responsible for all aspects of employee ______ and management. (a) departure (b) compensation (c) management (d) training (e) staffing

  5. To remain competitive, companies need to ______ their employees' skills through ongoing professional development. (a) terminate (b) upgrade (c) monitor (d) acquire (e) outsource

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Our company intends to take on twenty new marketing assistants for the upcoming campaign.
  2. The process of finding suitable applicants for the new research roles is proving challenging.
  3. The project team tried to convince more people to join their focus group for the survey.

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. recruit
  2. recruit
  3. apply
  4. develop

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. (b) recruit, (e) hire
  2. (b) recruitment, (d) selection
  3. (b) attract, (d) recruit
  4. (e) staffing
  5. (b) upgrade

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Our company intends to recruit twenty new marketing assistants for the upcoming campaign.
  2. The recruitment process for suitable applicants for the new research roles is proving challenging.
  3. The project team tried to enroll more people in their focus group for the survey.

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