engage

¹

[en-geyj]

verb (used with object)

engaged, engaging 

1. to occupy the attention or efforts of (a person or persons).

   He engaged her in conversation.

   Synonyms: involve, interest, engross, absorb

2. to secure for aid, employment, use, etc.; hire.

   to engage a worker;

   to engage a room.

   Antonyms: discharge

3. to attract and hold fast.

   The novel engaged her attention and interest.

4. to attract or please.

   His good nature engages everyone.

5. to bind, as by pledge, promise, contract, or oath; make liable.

   He engaged himself to repay his debt within a month.

6. to betroth (usually used in the passive).

   They were engaged last week.

7. to bring (troops) into conflict; enter into conflict with.

   Our army engaged the enemy.

8. Mechanics.,  to cause (gears or the like) to become interlocked; interlock with.

   Antonyms: release

9. to attach or secure.

10. Obsolete.,  to entangle or involve.

verb (used without object)

engaged, engaging 

1. to occupy oneself; become involved.

   to engage in business or politics.

2. to take employment.

   She engaged in her mother's business.

3. to pledge one's word; assume an obligation.

   I was unwilling to engage on such terms.

4. to cross weapons; enter into conflict.

   The armies engaged early in the morning.

5. Mechanics.,  (of gears or the like) to interlock.

engagé

²

[ahn-ga-zhey]

adjective

1. choosing to involve oneself in or commit oneself to something.

   Some of the political activists grew less engagé as the years passed.

engage

¹

/ ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ /

verb

1. to secure the services of; employ

2. to secure for use; reserve

   engage a room

3. to involve (a person or his attention) intensely; engross; occupy

4. to attract (the affection) of (a person)

   her innocence engaged him

5. to draw (somebody) into conversation

6. (intr) to take part; participate

   he engages in many sports

7. to promise (to do something)

8. (also intr) military to begin an action with (an enemy)

9. to bring (a mechanism) into operation

   he engaged the clutch

10. (also intr) to undergo or cause to undergo interlocking, as of the components of a driving mechanism, such as a gear train

11. machinery to locate (a locking device) in its operative position or to advance (a tool) into a workpiece to commence cutting

engagé

²

/ ɑ̃ɡaʒe /

adjective

1. (of a writer or artist, esp a man) morally or politically committed to some ideology

Other Word Forms

• engager noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of engage¹

First recorded in 1515–25; from Middle French engager, Old French engagier; en- ¹ ( def. ), gage ¹ ( def. )

Origin of engage²

First recorded in 1950–55; from French: literally, “engaged”

Word History and Origins

Origin of engage¹

C15: from Old French engagier, from _en- ¹ + gage a pledge, see _gage ¹

Example Sentences

"I am engaged in ongoing discussions with Jeremy, for whom, like all socialists of my generation, I have nothing but respect," she said.

From BBC

Control of the House should ultimately rest in the hands of voters rather than scheming politicians engaged in partisan map-drawing exercises, representing the proper functioning of democratic governance.

From Los Angeles Times

For young women like Agnes, the risks of engaging with these men were often weighed against the struggle to make ends meet.

From BBC

Her advice for dealing with it is to set boundaries in terms of what you are happy to engage with and use the settings in the apps themselves to help with that.

From BBC

People who engage in disruptions in public protest areas will be asked to move to a different location.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• arrest 
• catch 
• employ 
• fascinate 
• immerse 
• interest 
• involve 
• join 
• participate 
• preoccupy 
• undertake