engage
1 of 2verb
en·gage in-ˈgāj 
en-
engaged; engaging
transitive verb
1
: to offer (something, such as one's life or word) as backing to a cause or aim : to expose to risk for the attainment or support of some end
engaged his all in the king's cause
2
a
obsolete : to entangle or entrap in or as if in a snare or bog
b
: to attract and hold by influence or power
c
: to interlock with : mesh
also : to cause (mechanical parts) to mesh
engage the clutch
3
: to bind (someone, such as oneself) to do something
especially : to bind by a pledge to marry
4
a
: to provide occupation for : involve
engage him in a new project
b
: to arrange to obtain the use or services of : hire
engage a lawyer
5
a
: to hold the attention of : engross
her work engages her completely
b
: to induce to participate
engaged the shy boy in conversation
6
a
: to enter into contest or battle with
engage the enemy
b
: to bring together or interlock (weapons)
7
: to deal with especially at length
intransitive verb
1
a
: to pledge oneself : promise
b
: to make a guarantee
he engages for the honesty of his brother
2
a
: to begin and carry on an enterprise or activity —used with in
engaged in trade for many years
b
: to do or take part in something —used with in
engage in healthy activitiesengage in bad conduct
c
: to give attention to something : deal
failing to engage with the problem
3
: to enter into conflict or battle
4
: to come together and interlock
the gears engaged
engagé
2 of 2adjective
en·ga·gé ˌäⁿ-ˌgä-ˈzhā
: committed to or supportive of a cause
Did you know?
Engagé is the past participle of the French verb engager, meaning "to engage." The French have used "engagé" since the 19th century to describe socially or politically active people. The term became particularly fashionable in the wake of World War II, when French writers, artists, and intellectuals felt it was increasingly important for them to take a stand on political or social issues and represent their attitudes in their art. By 1946, English speakers had adopted the word for their own politically relevant writing or art, and within a short time "engagé" was being used generally for any passionate commitment to a cause.
Synonyms
Verb
- absorb
- bemuse
- busy
- catch up
- engross
- enthrall
- enthral
- enwrap
- fascinate
- grip
- immerse
- interest
- intrigue
- involve
- occupy
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb He was engaged as a tutor. He sure can engage an audience. The story engaged my interest. The troops prepared to engage the enemy. The troops prepared to engage with the enemy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment and generally does not engage with the professional news media. Matt Mcfarland, CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 Police advised the resident to stay on his own property and not engage with the neighbor anymore. Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 3 Sep. 2022 That’s because the temperature sensors think the grill is still on, and so the ignite sequence won’t engage. Amanda Shapiro, Bon Appétit, 2 Sep. 2022 Amazon is going after 10,000 Facebook groups that the retail giant claims incentivize writing fake reviews, and the FTC sent a notice last October to more than 700 U.S. companies, warning them not to engage in the practice. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 31 Aug. 2022 There are subsets of populations that will not engage with a mental health clinician. BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2022 This is not a time to use video calls and meetings to not engage with our employees. Joe Hart, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2022 Around Kherson, Ukraine won’t engage Russian forces head-on, said Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential adviser. Daniel Michaels, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 See More
Verb
The book club is a face-to-face interaction versus a shoulder-to-shoulder one where men pay attention to something else and don’t really engage. Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2022 Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment and generally does not engage with the professional news media. Matt Mcfarland, CNN, 7 Sep. 2022 Police advised the resident to stay on his own property and not engage with the neighbor anymore. Bob Sandrick, cleveland, 3 Sep. 2022 That’s because the temperature sensors think the grill is still on, and so the ignite sequence won’t engage. Amanda Shapiro, Bon Appétit, 2 Sep. 2022 Amazon is going after 10,000 Facebook groups that the retail giant claims incentivize writing fake reviews, and the FTC sent a notice last October to more than 700 U.S. companies, warning them not to engage in the practice. Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 31 Aug. 2022 There are subsets of populations that will not engage with a mental health clinician. BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2022 This is not a time to use video calls and meetings to not engage with our employees. Joe Hart, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2022 Around Kherson, Ukraine won’t engage Russian forces head-on, said Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential adviser. Daniel Michaels, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French engager, from en- + gage pledge, gage
Adjective
French, past participle of engager to engage
First Known Use
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Adjective
1946, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing engage
Kids Definition
engage
verb
en·gage in-ˈgāj
engaged; engaging
1
: to catch and keep fixed (as someone's attention)
The story engaged my interest.
2
: to take part in or cause to take part in something
He engages in many school activities.
3
: to enter into contest or battle with
Soldiers engaged the enemy.
4
: to arrange for the services or use of : employ
I suggest you engage a lawyer.
5
: mesh
The gears engaged.
engages
verb
1
as in immerses
to hold the attention of the challenging jigsaw puzzle engaged us all evening Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- immerses
- occupies
- interests
- intrigues
- involves
- fascinates
- attracts
- busies
- engrosses
- grips
- absorbs
- distracts
- enthralls
- enthrals
- captivates
- enwraps
- preoccupies
- bemuses
- enchants
- obsesses
- hypnotizes
- mesmerizes
- allures
- beguiles
- bewitches
- monopolizes
- catches one's eye
- catches up
- charms
- hogs
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- bores
- wearies
- palls
- tires
- jades
2
as in faces
to enter into contest or conflict with the daring young captain was eager to engage the enemy Synonyms & Similar Words
- faces
- meets
- encounters
- battles
- fights
- opposes
- emulates
- contends
- takes on
- rivals
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- evades
- eludes
- escapes
- retreats
3
as in commits
to obligate by prior agreement we can't go to the dance because we're already engaged to attend a piano recital Synonyms & Similar Words
- commits
- mortgages
- pledges
- enrolls
- vows
- enlists
- troths
- promises
- swears
- enrols
- betroths
- plights
- affiances
- signs on
- signs up
- overcommits
- contracts
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reneges
4
as in employs
to provide with a paying job the wealthy couple are looking to engage a handyman to take care of the estate Synonyms & Similar Words
- employs
- hires
- recruits
- retains
- pays
- enlists
- assumes
- fees
- promotes
- reengages
- lays on
- signs (up or on)
- places
- partners
- takes on
- jobs
- rehires
- subcontracts
- apprentices
- contracts
- reemploys
- upgrades
- scouts
- advances
- headhunts
- keeps (on)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dismisses
- discharges
- cans
- fires
- axes
- sacks
- furloughs
- locks out
- lays off
5
as in hires
to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum my sister and her boyfriend have engaged a chauffeured limousine for the prom Synonyms & Similar Words
- hires
- rents
- leases
- charters
- checks out
- sublets
- subleases
- bespeaks
- books
- arranges (for)
- contracts (for)
- signs up (for)
- reserves
- orders