WordValeentail
to involve as a necessary consequence
In more detail
1. (verb) to involve something as a necessary or logical consequence
2. (verb) to legally limit the inheritance of property to a specific line of descendants
Examples
- 1. Getting a degree entails years of study and hard work.
- 2. The old estate was entailed to the eldest son.
How to use entail
Entail is commonly used in the first sense to mean 'to necessarily involve as a consequence or requirement,' often appearing in explanations of what something involves or requires. The second sense (legal inheritance restriction) is historical and now less frequently encountered. The word carries a formal tone and often appears in academic or professional contexts.
Common phrases
- entail risks
- entail costs
- entail responsibilities
- what does this entail
- entail significant changes
Synonyms
involve · require · necessitate · imply · demand
Word family
entailment (noun) · entailed (adjective) · entailing (verb form)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse entail with entangle or mistake it as simply meaning 'to contain,' forgetting the emphasis on necessary consequence or logical requirement.
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