employ

[ em-ploi ]

verb (used with object)

1. to hire or engage the services of (a person or persons); provide employment for; have or keep in one's service:

   This factory employs thousands of people.

2. to make use of (an instrument, means, etc.); use; apply:

   We employ objective and scientific methods to analyze all management areas.

3. to keep busy or at work; engage the attentions of:

   He employs himself by reading after work.

4. to occupy or devote (time, energies, etc.):

   I employ my spare time in reading. I employ all my energies in writing.

noun

1. employment; service:

   to be in someone's employ.

employ

/ ɪmˈplɔɪ /

verb

1. to engage or make use of the services of (a person) in return for money; hire
2. to provide work or occupation for; keep busy; occupy

   collecting stamps employs a lot of his time

3. to use as a means

   to employ secret measures to get one's ends

noun

1. the state of being employed (esp in the phrase in someone's employ )

Derived Forms

• emˈployable, adjective
• emˌployaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• non·em·ploy·ing adjective
• o·ver·em·ploy verb (used with object)
• pre·em·ploy verb (used with object)
• re·em·ploy verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of employ¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English employen, from Anglo-French, Middle French emploier, ultimately derived from Latin implicāre “to enfold” ( Late Latin: “to engage”); implicate

Word History and Origins

Origin of employ¹

C15: from Old French emploier, from Latin implicāre to entangle, engage, from plicāre to fold

Example Sentences

Such is her burgeoning popularity Toomey is looking to employ more instructors to lead her highly personalized exercise classes.

From The Daily Beast

We employ inventory management to help solidify their property and make sure they have a better record of their possessions.

From The Daily Beast

After construction, the pipeline would employ about 50 people, primarily for maintenance.

From The Daily Beast

Some locations even employ chlorine mats that service members are required to wipe their feet on in order to enter.

From The Daily Beast

Some factories do not employ Muslims on the premises who can oversee the process, Nana said.

From The Daily Beast

All this will, doubtless, throw a number of deserving persons out of employ.

From Project Gutenberg

In fact, Frank was the only European in Meerut who would employ the man, whose extraordinary appearance went against him.

From Project Gutenberg

To talk of an excess of labor, or an inability to employ it, in such a country as Ireland, is to insult the general understanding.

From Project Gutenberg

The bank did not employ him to steal, but to perform the ordinary banking duties.

From Project Gutenberg

And if we did that, they would employ their usual treachery and evil methods, as they generally do.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• apply
• engage
• exploit
• handle
• occupy
• operate
• spend
• use
• utilize