Start something new or important
After years of dreaming about it, Lisa finally decided to embark on her own business venture, quitting her office job and pouring all her savings into opening the little bakery she’d always imagined. Her friends threw her a good luck party.
This meaning is about beginning something significant or exciting. Imagine a young couple who decide to embark on a year-long trip around the world, selling their belongings and setting off with just backpacks. This is embarking on something big. You might embark on a new career after finishing school, or embark on a challenging project at work. Or picture a company that embarks on an ambitious plan to expand internationally, opening offices in five new countries. The word carries a sense of adventure and commitment.
Vivid example: At sixty-two, retired teacher Mr. Johnson embarked on his lifelong dream of writing a novel, setting up a small desk by the window and committing to write every morning. Two years later, he held his published book in his hands.
Examples from the Street
“She’s embarking on a new career in tech.” → She’s starting a fresh professional path in the technology industry
“We’re about to embark on a journey that will change everything.” → We’re going to begin an experience that will transform our lives completely
“Before you embark on this project, make sure you understand the risks.” → Before you start this undertaking, be certain you know what could go wrong
Embark on + journey/adventure — VERY COMMON:
– embark on a journey → begin a trip (literal or metaphorical)
– embark on an adventure → start an exciting new experience
– embark on a voyage → begin a long trip, especially by sea (slightly formal)
– embark on a quest → begin a determined search or mission
Embark on + career/life change — VERY COMMON:
– embark on a career → begin a professional path
– embark on a new chapter/phase → start a new period in life
– embark on married life → begin life as a married couple
– embark on retirement → begin the post-work phase of life
Embark on + project/undertaking:
– embark on a project → begin a planned piece of work
– embark on a programme/course → start a structured plan or study
– embark on reforms → begin making significant changes
– embark on an ambitious plan → start a challenging undertaking
Common modifiers and structures:
– about to embark on → on the verge of starting
– ready to embark on → prepared to begin
– before embarking on → prior to starting
– decide/choose to embark on → make the decision to begin
Example Sentences
1. After graduating, she embarked on a career in international development → Once she finished university, she began working professionally in the field of global aid and progress.
2. The couple embarked on a journey around the world that lasted eighteen months → The pair started travelling across the globe on a trip that continued for a year and a half.
3. The government is about to embark on its most ambitious infrastructure project ever → The authorities are on the verge of starting their most challenging construction programme in history.
4. Before embarking on any diet, you should consult your doctor → Prior to starting any eating plan, you ought to speak with your physician.
5. At sixty-five, he embarked on a new chapter by learning to paint → At the age of sixty-five, he began a fresh phase of his life by taking up artistic creation with brushes and canvas.
6. The company has embarked on an ambitious plan to reduce its carbon footprint by fifty percent → The business has begun a challenging initiative to cut its environmental impact by half.
7. They embarked on married life with nothing but optimism and a small flat in Manchester → They started their existence as husband and wife with only hope and a tiny apartment in the northern English city.
8. The explorer embarked on a quest to find the lost temple deep in the jungle → The adventurer began a determined mission to locate the forgotten ancient building hidden in the dense forest.
9. Are you sure you’re ready to embark on such a demanding course of study? → Are you certain you’re prepared to begin such a challenging programme of learning?
10. The university has embarked on a major reform of its admissions process → The higher education institution has begun making significant changes to how it accepts new students.
Learner Examples
1. Learning a new language is like embarking on a journey — you don’t know exactly where it will take you, but the experience changes you → Studying an unfamiliar tongue is similar to starting a long trip — you’re uncertain of your final destination, but the process transforms who you are.
2. Before embarking on an intensive English course, students should honestly assess their current level and set realistic goals → Prior to beginning a demanding language programme, learners ought to truthfully evaluate where they stand now and establish achievable targets.
✔ Native usage tips
– “Embark on” sounds slightly formal or dramatic — in casual speech, natives might say “start” or “begin” instead. “Embark on” adds weight and significance, suggesting something important or meaningful is beginning
– Originally a nautical term — “embark” literally means to board a ship. The phrase “embark on a voyage” is the original usage. The metaphorical meaning (starting any significant undertaking) developed from this
– Always “embark ON,” never “embark IN” — the preposition is always “on.” This is a fixed phrasal verb. “Embark in a career” is wrong; “embark on a career” is correct
– Implies significance and commitment — you wouldn’t “embark on” something trivial. You embark on a career, not on washing the dishes. The phrase suggests a meaningful, often challenging beginning
– Common in speeches, announcements, and writing — politicians, CEOs, and journalists love this phrase. “Today, we embark on a new era…” It sounds inspiring and momentous
– “Embark” alone (without “on”) — can be used transitively to mean board a vehicle, especially a ship or plane. “Passengers will embark at 3pm.” This is more formal and mostly used in travel/military contexts
– The opposite: “disembark” — means to leave a ship, plane, or vehicle. “Please remain seated until we disembark.” This is standard transport vocabulary
✔ Similar expressions / words
– Set out on → similar meaning but slightly less formal; better for personal journeys and goals. “She set out on her dream of becoming a writer” feels more intimate than “embarked on”
– Undertake → more formal; emphasises responsibility and commitment. “Undertake a project” is businesslike; “embark on a project” adds a sense of adventure. Both are formal
– Begin/Start → neutral, everyday alternatives with no dramatic weight. “She started a new career” is factual; “She embarked on a new career” sounds more significant and deliberate