include

/ɪnˈkluːd/

//ɪnˈkluːd// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"include" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“include” is in the everyday core of English, ranked #620 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#620
frequency rank, English
7
letters
10
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To bring into a group, class, set, or total as a (new) part or member.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

include vs intrude
71% similar
include vs included
88% similar
include vs includes
88% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for include
PropertyValue
Headwordinclude
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪnˈkluːd/
Letters7
Frequency rank#620
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “include” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). include lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for include is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪnˈkluːd/. Corpus data places it at rank #620 in overall English word frequency, putting it firmly in the everyday core of the language. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for include, with forms such as "icnlude", "incclude", and "incldue". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "intrude", "included", "includes", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English includen, borrowed from Latin inclūdere (“to shut in, enclose, insert”), from in- (“in”) + claudere (“to shut”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kleh₂w- (“key, hook, nail”). Doublet of enclose. Displaced native Old English belūcan (… The correct English form is include, spelled I-N-C-L-U-D-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To bring into a group, class, set, or total as a (new) part or member.
  2. 2
    To consider as part of something; to comprehend.
  3. 3
    To enclose, confine.
  4. 4
    To conclude; to terminate.
  5. 5
    To use a directive that allows the use of source code from another file.

Etymology

From Middle English includen, borrowed from Latin inclūdere (“to shut in, enclose, insert”), from in- (“in”) + claudere (“to shut”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kleh₂w- (“key, hook, nail”). Doublet of enclose. Displaced native Old English belūcan (“to include,” also “to shut in”).

Synonyms

addadmitallowbearcircumscribecome withcomposecompriseconsistcontaincountcoverembodyembraceencircleencloseencompassentailgrantincorporateinvolvepossess

Antonyms

excludedroplackomitrefrain

This word in other languages

incluir(Español)inclure(Français)einschließen(Deutsch)incluir(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: icnlude,incclude,incldue,incllude,includde,inclued,inculde,inlcude,innclude,niclude

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of include - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

icnlude2incclude1incldue2incllude1includde1inclued2inculde2inlcude2
Edit distance from "include"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "include"?
"include" is spelled I-N-C-L-U-D-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪnˈkluːd/.
What does "include" mean?
As a verb, "include" means: To bring into a group, class, set, or total as a (new) part or member.
What words are commonly confused with "include"?
"include" is commonly confused with "intrude", "included", "includes". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "include"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "include" is /ɪnˈkluːd/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "include"?
From Middle English includen, borrowed from Latin inclūdere (“to shut in, enclose, insert”), from in- (“in”) + claudere (“to shut”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kleh₂w- (“key, hook, nail”). Doublet of enclose. Displaced native Old English... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “include”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is I-N-C-L-U-D-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪnˈkluːd/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “intrude” - see the side-by-side comparison. include vs intrude
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list