30+ Other Ways to Say “Include” (with 110+ Examples)
The word include covers a lot of ground: it can mean to contain as part of a whole, to add someone to a group, or to build an item into a plan. The five strongest replacements are contain (hold inside), comprise (be made up of), encompass (cover completely), incorporate (build into a whole), and feature (showcase as a highlight). This guide lists 31 other ways to say “include,” organized by tone.
The box contains twelve glass ornaments.
The course comprises six modules and a final exam.
Her role encompasses design, testing, and support.
The hotel features a rooftop pool.
In this guide, you’ll find 31 handpicked synonyms for “include,” each with a clear meaning, a when-to-use note, and three example sentences. Use these include alternatives to sound sharper in essays, emails, reports, and everyday conversation.
In this guide
- “Include” in everyday, casual words
- “Include” in formal and professional writing
- Vivid and descriptive words for “include”
- Quick comparison: other ways to say “include”, which word should you use?
- Antonyms of “include”
- Common mistakes with “include”
- Frequently Asked Questions
“Include” in everyday, casual words
When you want a friendly, natural replacement for “include,” these everyday synonyms for “include” fit right in.
1. Contain
Meaning: To hold something inside. When to use: Objects, lists, and descriptions.
The box contains twelve glass ornaments.
The report contains three clear charts.
The soup contains fresh herbs and lemon.
2. Feature
Meaning: To present as a special attraction. When to use: Marketing and highlights.
The hotel features a rooftop pool.
The show features guest chefs weekly.
The app features a dark mode option.
3. Hold
Meaning: To have room for something. When to use: Capacity and storage.
The hall holds two hundred guests.
The drawer holds all my cables.
The tank holds fifty liters of water.
4. Take in
Meaning: To accept as part of a group. When to use: People, guests, and members.
The club takes in new members monthly.
The shelter takes in stray animals.
The tour takes in five historic towns.
5. Involve
Meaning: To bring someone into an activity. When to use: Plans, jobs, and processes.
The project involves ten volunteers.
The recipe involves overnight chilling.
The job involves weekend travel.
6. Throw in
Meaning: To add as a bonus or extra. When to use: Informal deals and extras.
The dealer threw in free floor mats.
She threw in a joke to lighten the mood.
The chef threw in extra garlic.
7. Add in
Meaning: To put something extra into a mix. When to use: Cooking, lists, and plans.
Add in a pinch of salt at the end.
They added in a day trip to the lake.
The teacher added in a fun quiz.
8. Count
Meaning: To reckon as part of a total. When to use: Numbers and totals.
The fee counts toward your final grade.
Count me as part of the team.
The bonus counts as extra pay.
9. Bring in
Meaning: To introduce into a group or place. When to use: Guests, experts, and ideas.
They brought in an expert for the audit.
She brought in fresh flowers for the office.
The band brought in a new drummer.
10. Welcome
Meaning: To gladly accept into a group. When to use: Friendly invitations and teams.
We welcome all new neighbors warmly.
The team welcomed her ideas eagerly.
The school welcomes transfer students.
11. Cover
Meaning: To deal with or extend over a range. When to use: Topics, costs, and ranges.
The course covers basic and advanced topics.
Insurance covers the full repair cost.
The talk covers three main points.
“Include” in formal and professional writing
When “include” needs to sound polished and precise, these formal synonyms for “include” carry more weight.
12. Comprise
Meaning: To be made up of specific parts. When to use: Formal descriptions of wholes.
The course comprises six modules and a final exam.
The committee comprises eleven members.
The estate comprises fifty acres of forest.
13. Incorporate
Meaning: To build into a larger unit. When to use: Design, business, and systems.
The new model incorporates major safety upgrades.
She incorporated feedback into the draft.
The treaty incorporates three older agreements.
14. Encompass
Meaning: To surround or cover completely. When to use: Broad, formal scope.
Her role encompasses design, testing, and support.
The survey encompasses all age groups.
The plan encompasses five fiscal years.
15. Embody
Meaning: To represent an idea in physical form. When to use: Ideals and qualities.
She embodies the spirit of the team.
The design embodies modern simplicity.
His life embodied quiet courage.
16. Embrace
Meaning: To gather separate items into a whole. When to use: Beliefs and broad systems.
Her faith embraces many different traditions.
The theory embraces the whole field.
The festival embraces music and dance.
17. Subsume
Meaning: To absorb into a larger category. When to use: Academic and legal writing.
The rule subsumes all earlier exceptions.
The new law subsumes three old statutes.
The theory subsumes the smaller models.
18. Comprehend
Meaning: To take in within a scope or definition. When to use: Formal definitions and systems.
His system comprehends all of history.
The policy comprehends every department.
The book comprehends a century of art.
19. Entail
Meaning: To necessarily bring along as a consequence. When to use: Obligations and processes.
The new job entails a lot of travel.
The project entails three site visits.
The role entails night shifts weekly.
20. Constitute
Meaning: To make up or form as parts. When to use: Formal composition statements.
Twelve members constitute a full jury.
These factors constitute a strong case.
Five chapters constitute the whole book.
21. Admit
Meaning: To allow entry into a group. When to use: Memberships and admissions.
The school admits thirty students yearly.
The club admitted five new members.
The gallery admits visitors free on Sundays.
22. Integrate
Meaning: To blend into a unified whole. When to use: Teams, systems, and technology.
The firm integrated the two departments.
She integrated the new data smoothly.
The app integrates maps and payments.
Vivid and descriptive words for “include”
When plain words feel flat, these vivid synonyms for “include” add color and flavor to your writing.
23. Fold in
Meaning: To gently mix into a whole. When to use: Cooking and gentle blending.
Fold in the whipped cream slowly.
She folded in his suggestions kindly.
Fold in the new policies over time.
24. Weave in
Meaning: To thread through a larger pattern. When to use: Stories and speeches.
He wove in jokes throughout the speech.
The author weaves in local legends.
She wove in her travels as examples.
25. Rope in
Meaning: To persuade someone to join in. When to use: Informal recruiting and help.
They roped me in to help with the move.
She roped in three friends for the bake sale.
He was roped in to judge the contest.
26. Pull in
Meaning: To draw into a group or activity. When to use: Informal invitations.
The coach pulled in the shy rookie.
The offer pulled in many new clients.
She pulled in her cousin for the project.
27. Count in
Meaning: To reckon someone as participating. When to use: Informal commitments.
Count me in for the weekend trip.
She counted him in for the fundraiser.
Count the kids in for lunch too.
28. Work in
Meaning: To fit something into a schedule. When to use: Appointments and busy days.
She worked in a quick lunch meeting.
The dentist worked in an extra patient.
He worked in a run before work.
29. Build in
Meaning: To make part of the structure. When to use: Design and planning.
The plan builds in two rest days.
They built in extra time for delays.
The app builds in daily reminders.
30. Bundle in
Meaning: To package together as one offer. When to use: Sales and package deals.
The deal bundles in free installation.
The phone plan bundles in streaming.
The course bundles in live tutoring.
31. Sweep in
Meaning: To gather many things at once. When to use: Vivid descriptions of collecting.
The net sweeps in fish of all sizes.
The policy sweeps in every department.
The sale swept in bargain hunters.
Quick comparison: which word should you use?
| Word | Intensity | Formality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contain | Low | Neutral | Objects and contents |
| Feature | Medium | Neutral | Highlights and marketing |
| Throw in | Low | Casual | Extras and bonuses |
| Involve | Medium | Neutral | Activities and jobs |
| Comprise | Medium | Formal | Whole-part descriptions |
| Incorporate | Medium | Formal | Systems and design |
| Encompass | High | Formal | Complete broad scope |
| Subsume | Medium | Very formal | Legal and academic writing |
| Weave in | Medium | Neutral | Stories and speeches |
| Build in | Medium | Neutral | Plans and design |
A few of these top picks in action:
The gift box contains twelve handmade soaps.
The jury comprises citizens from every district.
His job encompasses training and mentoring.
She wove her travels into the keynote.
Antonyms of “include”
- Exclude, to deliberately leave out. The rule excludes late entries.
- Omit, to leave out by mistake or choice. He omitted her name from the list.
- Leave out, to not include. They left out the boring details.
- Drop, to remove from a list. The airline dropped the evening flight.
- Bar, to officially keep out. The club barred non-members.
- Disregard, to pay no attention to. The report disregards older data.
Common mistakes with “include”
1. Getting “comprise” backwards. The whole comprises the parts, never say “is comprised of” in formal writing.
✗ The team is comprised of ten players.
✓ The team comprises ten players.
2. Implying a complete list with “includes.” “Includes” signals a partial list. If the list is complete, say “consists of” instead.
✗ The kit includes a tent, a stove, and nothing else.
✓ The kit consists of a tent and a stove.
3. Writing “include but are not limited to” clumsily. The phrase needs a verb form: “include, but are not limited to.” A comma after “include” fixes it.
✗ The list includes but are not limited to books.
✓ The list includes, but is not limited to, books.
4. Mismatching subject and verb after a list. “Include” agrees with the subject, not the items that follow it.
✗ The package include a charger and a case.
✓ The package includes a charger and a case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best formal synonym for “include”?
“Comprise” is the most precise formal choice, but use it correctly: the whole comprises the parts. “Encompass” and “incorporate” are safer alternatives with wider uses. Merriam-Webster’s thesaurus entry for include lists involve, contain, and encompass among the closest matches, so match the word to your context.
The report comprises twelve sections.
The plan encompasses five departments.
What is the difference between “include” and “comprise”?
“Include” suggests a partial list; “comprise” claims the whole is made up of exactly those parts. Use “include” for examples and “comprise” for complete breakdowns. For more subtle shades between words, see our guide on other ways to say compare.
The menu includes seafood dishes.
The menu comprises starters, mains, and desserts.
Can “include” and “involve” be used interchangeably?
Not quite. “Include” is about parts inside a whole; “involve” is about participation or necessary consequences. The project includes ten people; the job involves weekend work.
The price includes breakfast daily.
The job involves early morning shifts.
What does “including but not limited to” mean?
It is a legal-style phrase meaning the listed items are examples, not the full set. In plain writing, just use “including”, it already implies the list is not exhaustive.
The fee covers repairs, including but not limited to plumbing.
The festival includes music, food, and more.
What is the opposite of “include”?
The cleanest opposites are “exclude” and “omit.” For deliberate removal, use “drop” or “bar”; for ignoring, use “disregard.” Our guide on other ways to say variety also covers words about complete sets.
The policy excludes late applications.
He omitted the boring middle chapter.
When should I use “encompass” instead of “include”?
Use “encompass” when you want to stress complete, all-around coverage, a role, a theory, a survey. “Include” is lighter and works for any partial list.
Her role encompasses the whole customer journey.
The box includes a free charger.
Final thoughts
The right replacement for “include” depends on the tone you want. Use “contain” or “feature” for everyday writing, “comprise” or “incorporate” for formal work, and “weave in” or “fold in” when you want color. Keep exploring with our guides on other ways to say compare and other ways to say variety to sharpen your word choices even further.
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