embark

embark — verb

1. to get on a ship, boat, or aircraft at the beginning of a trip, often as part of

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to get on a ship, boat, or aircraft at the beginning of a trip, often as part of a longer journey

Example

Christopher and his family embarked for New York from the Port of Southampton.

embark + for [destination] + from [place]

All passengers must embark no later than thirty minutes before the ship departs.

time specification with embark

Common collocations
  • embark at [port]
  • embark for [destination]
  • embark from [place]
  • embark passengers
  • embark cargo
Synonyms
  • board

    more general term, used for any vehicle including buses and trains

  • go on board

    slightly more formal, emphasises the physical act of stepping onto the vessel

Antonyms
  • disembark

    to leave a ship or aircraft after arrival

  • get off

    informal equivalent of disembark

Grammar Patterns

embark (no object)

embark + for [destination]

embark + from [place]

embark + passengers/cargo (transitive)

Usage Note

Can be used both intransitively (passengers embark) and transitively (the crew embarks passengers). The intransitive use is far more common in modern English. For destination, use 'for'; for origin, use 'from'.

Common Mistakes

He embarked the bus to go to work.
He boarded the bus to go to work.
'embark' is used for ships, boats, and aircraft beginning a journey, not for the routine boarding of buses or trains.

2. to decide to start doing something new and significant, such as a project, caree

2.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to decide to start doing something new and significant, such as a project, career, or course of action that requires commitment over time

Example

After graduating from university, Lakshmi embarked on a career in environmental law.

embark on + career / project / journey

The company will embark on a major renovation of its headquarters next spring.

Common collocations
  • embark on a career
  • embark on a project
  • embark on a journey
  • embark on a venture
  • embark on a study
  • embark on a mission
Synonyms
  • begin

    more general and neutral in register, suitable for everyday contexts

  • undertake

    formal, emphasises responsibility or effort involved

  • launch

    emphasises a deliberate, often public beginning of a large initiative

Antonyms
  • abandon

    to give up a project or venture after starting it

  • give up

    informal equivalent of abandon

Grammar Patterns

embark on + noun phrase

embark upon + noun phrase (formal)

Usage Note

This sense always requires the preposition 'on' or 'upon' (more formal). Common noun objects include 'career', 'project', 'venture', 'journey', 'adventure', 'mission', and 'plan'. The -ing form 'embarking on' is frequently used in formal writing.

Common Mistakes

They embarked a new business venture.
They embarked on a new business venture.
The figurative sense of 'embark' always requires the preposition 'on' or 'upon'; the verb cannot take a direct object.
Phrasal verbs

embark on

phrasal verb

To start a new project, journey, or activity that will take some time.

Maya will embark on her first solo trip next month.

The company embarked on a plan to reduce waste.

embark upon

phrasal verb

To begin a new and important course of action or venture.

Diego embarked upon a career in medicine after college.

Have you ever embarked upon a long-distance hiking trail?

Word family

  • embarkation
    nounB2
  • disembark
    verbB2
  • disembarkation
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

Begin is the most general and neutral word, suitable for everyday contexts from cooking dinner to writing a novel. Undertake implies that the task involves significant responsibility or effort, and is common in formal and professional writing (e.g., the university undertook a review of its admissions policy). Launch emphasises a deliberate, often impressive beginning of a large-scale initiative (e.g., the company launched a new product line). Commence is a formal synonym for begin, used in official documents and ceremonies (e.g., the ceremony will commence at noon). Embark on combines the sense of beginning with the implication of a significant, extended commitment — it is the right choice when the endeavor feels like a journey with a clear direction. For example, you begin a conversation, launch a campaign, undertake a review, and embark on a career.

begin ↗undertake ↗launch ↗commence ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • embark on a career
  • embark on a journey
  • embark on a project
  • embark for [destination]

Prepositions

Etymology

Vulgar LatinFrenchEnglish

From French 'embarquer', made up of 'em-' (meaning into) and 'barque' (a small ship, also called a bark). The literal sense of going onto a ship dates from the late 1500s. By the mid-1700s, the figurative meaning of starting an important new activity had developed, comparing a new undertaking to the beginning of a sea voyage.