engage
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
to occupy the attention or efforts of (a person or persons).
He engaged her in conversation.
-
to secure for aid, employment, use, etc.; hire.
to engage a worker;
to engage a room.
- Antonyms:
- discharge
-
to attract and hold fast.
The novel engaged her attention and interest.
-
to attract or please.
His good nature engages everyone.
-
to bind, as by pledge, promise, contract, or oath; make liable.
He engaged himself to repay his debt within a month.
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to betroth (usually used in the passive).
They were engaged last week.
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to bring (troops) into conflict; enter into conflict with.
Our army engaged the enemy.
-
Mechanics. to cause (gears or the like) to become interlocked; interlock with.
- Antonyms:
- release
-
to attach or secure.
-
Obsolete. to entangle or involve.
verb (used without object)
-
to occupy oneself; become involved.
to engage in business or politics.
-
to take employment.
She engaged in her mother's business.
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to pledge one's word; assume an obligation.
I was unwilling to engage on such terms.
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to cross weapons; enter into conflict.
The armies engaged early in the morning.
-
Mechanics. (of gears or the like) to interlock.
adjective
verb
-
to secure the services of; employ
-
to secure for use; reserve
engage a room
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to involve (a person or his attention) intensely; engross; occupy
-
to attract (the affection) of (a person)
her innocence engaged him
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to draw (somebody) into conversation
-
(intr) to take part; participate
he engages in many sports
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to promise (to do something)
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(also intr) military to begin an action with (an enemy)
-
to bring (a mechanism) into operation
he engaged the clutch
-
(also intr) to undergo or cause to undergo interlocking, as of the components of a driving mechanism, such as a gear train
-
machinery to locate (a locking device) in its operative position or to advance (a tool) into a workpiece to commence cutting
adjective
Other Word Forms
- engager noun
Etymology
Origin of engage1
First recorded in 1515–25; from Middle French engager, Old French engagier; en- 1 ( def. ), gage 1 ( def. )
Origin of engagé2
First recorded in 1950–55; from French: literally, “engaged”
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.
Criminologist Guy Lamb told the BBC he was not convinced the deployment would deliver lasting results, saying soldiers are "not designed to engage in policing" but rather to engage in combat and use maximum force.
From BBC
"We look forward to continuing to engage with the local community as we progress our development and when we move into our new home."
From BBC
The report does not claim that all employers using these systems engage in algorithmic wage surveillance.
From MarketWatch
“But also, I just wish people would calm down ... try to talk to us, try to engage with us and help de-escalate the situation, instead of making it worse.”
From Los Angeles Times
On its website, Rightmove claims it gives agents "access and brand exposure to the UK's largest and most engaged home-moving audience."
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
