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Synonyms

engaging

American  
[en-gey-jing] / ɛnˈgeɪ dʒɪŋ /

adjective

  1. winning; attractive; pleasing.

    an engaging smile.

    Synonyms:
    agreeable, charming

engaging British  
/ ɪnˈɡeɪdʒɪŋ /

adjective

  1. pleasing, charming, or winning

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of engaging

First recorded in 1665–75; engage + -ing 2

Explanation

A story, song, or person that is engaging is entertaining, fun, and interesting — you want to see or hear more. To remember the meaning of engaging, it might help to think of what engaged means. When a couple is engaged, they've agreed to get married. When something or somebody is engaging, you want to spend more time with them too. Boring is the complete opposite of engaging. Think of your favorite movie or TV show — especially one you can't stop watching — it must be very engaging.

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Vocabulary lists containing engaging

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Eccentric and engaging, with the uncontainable energy of a shaken-up Coke bottle, he came up with a song that, for once, sounded uniquely British.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

The visit will come after a trip to Spain in June, demonstrating the pope's interest in engaging with historically Catholic but increasingly secular European countries which had been largely overlooked by his predecessor, Francis.

From Barron's • May 16, 2026

Honor herself comes through as a formidable heroine who triumphs over the forces of class privilege that Ms. Garman, through this engaging debut novel, so brilliantly depicts.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Regular people—and nonlawyers specifically—need to start engaging with these kinds of questions.

From Slate • May 13, 2026

He hurled the javelin across the field, a symbol of engaging in combat with a foreign enemy.

From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby

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