Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for engaging on Thesaurus.com winning; attractive; pleasing: an engaging smile. Show More
Origin of engaging First recorded in
1665–75; engage +
-ing2 Related forms en·gag·ing·ly , adverb en·gag·ing·ness , noun qua·si-en·gag·ing , adjective qua·si-en·gag·ing·ly , adverb un·en·gag·ing , adjective verb (used with object), en·gaged, en·gag·ing. 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. 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. to betroth (usually used in the passive): They were engaged last week. 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. to attach or secure. Obsolete to entangle or involve. Show More
verb (used without object), en·gaged, en·gag·ing. to occupy oneself; become involved: to engage in business or politics. to take employment: She engaged in her mother's business. to pledge one's word; assume an obligation: I was unwilling to engage on such terms. to cross weapons; enter into conflict: The armies engaged early in the morning. Mechanics (of gears or the like) to interlock. Show More
Origin of engage 1515–25; <
Middle French engager, Old French engagier. See
en-1 ,
gage1 Related forms en·gag·er , noun Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for engaging alluring ,
lovable ,
intriguing ,
likable ,
fascinating ,
interesting ,
inviting ,
pleasant ,
appealing ,
attractive ,
sweet ,
pleasing ,
captivating ,
enticing ,
prepossessing ,
fetching ,
bewitching ,
winning ,
entrancing ,
enchanting Examples from the Web for engaging Contemporary Examples of engaging Yet despite his engaging irascibility, Mamoon never quite emerges as a character in his own right.
What should the protocol be for engaging people on the street who offer unsolicited “compliments?”
Chatty, engaging and knowledgeable, cabbies in Hong Kong are also avid listeners of discussion programs on local radio.
I like a good story, and so I want to make sure that this character is engaging .
She was, unusually for a comedian, as funny and engaging off stage as on.
Historical Examples of engaging "If I walk with you, they'll know I'm not engaged to Joe," she said, with engaging directness.
In spite of its pretty entourage, too, the town is not engaging .
The engaging little town is indeed one of nature's sanatoriums.
The bosom received this tribute in its most engaging manner.
He has been in Parliament some time, you know,' returned the engaging young Barnacle.
British Dictionary definitions for engaging pleasing, charming, or winning Show More
Derived Forms engagingly , adverb engagingness , noun to secure the services of; employ to secure for use; reserve engage a room to involve (a person or his attention) intensely; engross; occupy to attract (the affection) of (a person) her innocence engaged him to draw (somebody) into conversation (intr) to take part; participate he engages in many sports to promise (to do something) (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 Show More
Derived Forms engager , noun Word Origin for engage C15: from Old French engagier, from en- 1 + gage a pledge, see gage 1
(of a writer or artist, esp a man) morally or politically committed to some ideology Show More
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
Word Origin and History for engaging adj. "interesting," 1650s (implied in engagingly ), present participle adjective from engage .
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v. early 15c., "to pledge," from Middle French engagier , from Old French en gage "under pledge," from en "make" + gage "pledge," through Frankish from Proto-Germanic *wadiare "pledge" (see wed ).
It shows the common evolution of Germanic -w- to French -g- ; cf. Guillaume from Wilhelm ). Meaning "attract the attention of" is from 1640s; that of "employ" is from 1640s, from notion of "binding as by a pledge." Specific sense of "promise to marry" is 1610s (implied in engaged ).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
