To recruit means to find and persuade people to join an organization, team, or cause. When a soccer coach recruits new players for the team, she's looking for talented athletes who would strengthen the squad. College admissions officers recruit promising students to attend their universities. A company might recruit skilled workers to fill important positions.

The word comes from military language, where armies recruit soldiers to serve. During wartime, governments might actively recruit citizens to join the armed forces. Today, the military still recruits young people who want to serve their country.

Recruiting involves more than just asking. Good recruiters work hard to convince people that joining is worthwhile. They might highlight exciting opportunities, explain benefits, or show why the work matters. A debate team captain recruiting new members might emphasize how much fun competitions are and how debating sharpens thinking skills.

A recruit (used as a noun) is someone who has just joined. New military members are called recruits during their basic training. When recruits join any organization, they're usually the newest and least experienced members, still learning how everything works.