engaged

American  

[en-geyjd] / ɛnˈgeɪdʒd /

adjective

1. busy or occupied; involved.

   deeply engaged in conversation.

2. pledged to be married; betrothed.

   an engaged couple.

3. under engagement; pledged.

   an engaged contractor.

4. entered into conflict with.

   desperately engaged armies.

5. Mechanics.

   1. interlocked.

   2. (of wheels) in gear with each other.

6. Architecture. (of a distinct member) built so as to be truly or seemingly attached in part to the structure before which it stands.

   an engaged column.

---

engaged British  

/ ɪnˈɡeɪdʒɪdlɪ, ɪnˈɡeɪdʒd /

adjective

1. pledged to be married; betrothed

2. employed, occupied, or busy

3. architect built against or attached to a wall or similar structure

   an engaged column

4. (of a telephone line) already in use

---

Other Word Forms

• engagedly adverb
• engagedness noun
• unengaged adjective

Etymology

Origin of engaged

First recorded in 1605–15; engage + -ed ²

Explanation

Engaged means fully occupied or having your full attention. An engaged reader really focuses on the words and maybe even jots down questions or comments in the pages' margins. If you're busy or involved with something, you're engaged in it. A formal reply to an invitation to lunch might be, "I'm sorry, I'm otherwise engaged" — meaning you already have plans. Engaged often describes people who have committed to getting married. You can see this meaning in the word's origin, the French word engagier, meaning "to pledge."

Example Sentences

They also showed a 13-41% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease, and other causes compared with those who engaged in fewer types of activity.

From Science Daily • Apr. 27, 2026

About one in five couples who are either married or engaged had one, and the share climbs much higher among younger adults, according to a 2023 Harris Poll.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

But she adds traditional marketing still matters, noting that while BookTok reaches a highly engaged audience, many readers still rely on reviews and traditional media to guide their reading choices.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

The Justice Department says that Van Dyke then engaged in a ham-fisted scheme to cover his tracks, routing his profits to a foreign crypto account and asking Polymarket to delete his account.

From Slate • Apr. 24, 2026

The game not only engaged Bobby’s mind, it tempered his loneliness, and while playing, he felt more alive.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• absorbed
• committed
• employed
• engrossed
• interested
• involved
• occupied
• preoccupied
• working