Skip to main content
involved

involved

16 6.6
Complicated and hard to understand
  • adjective
  • /ɪnˈvɑlvd/
translation icon : complicado
  • There is far more involved than simply agreeing upon the price, down payment, and terms.
  • more involved

It just keeps getting bigger and more involved and changes every day.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Maybe there was a little bit more involved than just that.

  • There are data flow issues involved that have to do with power and control.

  • I mean, it's a little more involved than that.

  • And what are the risks involved for all concerned?

  • It just keeps getting bigger and more involved and changes every day.

  • Similarly, I've also learned that most projects are more involved than they first appear.

    Blog text (18)
  • 9:00 - I tell a long and involved story about my first trip to Origins.

    Blog text (30)
  • In addition, it was emphasized to parents that no child would be pressured to become involved in the research.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The instructions for assembling the furniture were quite involved and required careful attention.

  • Understanding the legal agreement can be challenging because it is filled with involved terms and conditions.

Synonyms

complicated
vsinvolved
876 5.4

Difficult to understand or deal with because it has many connected parts

is the broader neutral label for something hard to understand
complex
vsinvolved
648 5.6

Not simple because it has many connected parts

is the general term for things that are hard to grasp
confusing
vsinvolved
276 3.2

Hard to understand and makes people feel unsure

is the broader term for complex or detailed difficulty rather than mere unclearity
elaborate
vsinvolved
179 4.9

Very detailed with many small parts or decorations

is the general term for something hard to understand or produce
intricate
vsinvolved
73 6.7

Having many small parts or details that are hard to understand

is similar but used more generally, not only for fine detail
convoluted
vsinvolved
31 8.6

Very complicated and hard to follow, often not needed

is similar but does not imply unnecessary complication
tortuous
vsinvolved
7 8.1

Full of twists and turns, like a winding road or an argument

is the wide term for difficulty, not focused on twists
Byzantine
vsinvolved
6 9.8

Very complex and difficult to understand, often about systems and rules

is used broadly for complex things without implying secrecy
tangled
vsinvolved
4 6.8

Very complicated and hard to follow, like rules or relationships

is similar but does not necessarily suggest trickery or deceit
labyrinthine
vsinvolved
  • Formal
4 9.2

Having many parts that are hard to follow like a maze

is the general label for complexity without the maze image
knotty
vsinvolved
1 8.1

Difficult to solve or understand, often about problems

is the general condition of being complicated rather than especially hard to solve
quite tricky
vsinvolved
1 5.1

Fairly difficult and needing some skill or care to do

is the general word for things that are hard to understand or deal with
overcomplicated
vsinvolved
1 6.2

More complex than it needs to be

is the neutral idea of complexity without judging necessity
entangled
vsinvolved
1 5.3

Twisted together, like wires, or stuck in a difficult situation

is the general descriptive word for things that are hard to understand
9.4

Very hard to understand because it is complicated

is similar but without implying extreme mental overwhelm

Antonyms

1.0

Easy to understand and not confusing

1.0

Easy to understand or do

Compounds

A shooting where a police officer shoots someone or gets shot

A physical fight involving one or more police officers

7.7

An event where police officers take part, often causing public or legal concern

How Complex

convoluted
31 8.6
involved
16 6.6
intricate
73 6.7
complex
648 5.6
simple
1.0

Surface Forms

involved positive

Morphology

involved = involve (semi-transparent) = involve + ed

The adjective 'involved' is formed from 'involve' + -ed, but the sense 'complicated' is a metaphorical extension ('wrapped up'), so learners may not derive it directly from the verb.

Etymology

Involved comes from the Latin parts in- 'in' and volvere 'to roll', the same root as revolve. Think of things 'rolled together' or tangled, which is why involved means 'complicated' or hard to understand.