DictionaryAI

engage

verb
in-GAYJ/ɪnˈɡeɪd͡ʒ/

Formsengages, engaging, engaged

12 meanings of engage

Practice

  1. 1
    verbtransitive
    To hold someone's attention or keep them busy.

    Like a toy that keeps a child happily playing for hours.

    A good story engages young readers from the first page.

    Teachers try to engage every student in the lesson.

    Similarcaptivate, absorb, engross, hold, occupy

    Oppositebore

  2. 2
    verbtransitive or intransitive
    To start talking with someone and draw them into conversation.

    She engaged the new student in friendly chat.

    Try to engage your shy neighbor with a simple question.

    Similarinvolve, draw

    Note
  3. 3
    verbtransitive
    To hire a worker or book a space for a job or event.

    They engaged a plumber to fix the leak.

    The hotel can engage extra staff for big weddings.

    Similarhire, employ, retain, book, reserve

  4. 4
    verbtransitive
    To begin fighting against an enemy.

    Our soldiers engaged the enemy near the river.

    They had to engage the attackers to defend the town.

    Similarattack, fight, battle, confront

    Note
  5. 5
    verbintransitive
    To begin fighting in a battle.

    The two armies engaged at dawn.

    Both fleets prepared to engage near the coast.

    Similarclash, fight, battle

    Oppositedisengage, withdraw, retreat

  6. 6
    verbintransitive
    To lock together so the parts of a machine move as one.

    Like two combs sliding together so their teeth lock and move as one.

    The gears engage when you press the pedal.

    Push the lever until the clutch engages.

    Similarmesh, interlock, connect, catch

    Oppositedisengage

  7. 7
    verbintransitive
    To promise that you will do something.

    He engaged to repay the loan within a year.

    I will engage to finish the work on time.

    Similarundertake, promise, pledge, agree, guarantee

    Note
  8. 8
    verbtransitive
    To bind someone by a promise, especially a promise to marry.

    Her parents engaged her to a family friend.

    Old custom let families engage their children while still young.

    Similarbetroth, promise, pledge

    Note
  9. 9
    verbtransitive
    To attract or please someone.

    Her warm smile engaged everyone at the party.

    A clever opening line can engage the reader at once.

    Similarcharm, captivate, attract, please, delight

    Oppositerepel

    Note
  10. 10
    verbtransitive
    To lock into gear with another moving part.

    The lever engages the main gear.

    Push firmly so the teeth engage the wheel.

    Similarmesh

    Oppositedisengage

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 11
    verbobsoletetransitive
    To tangle something up or catch it fast.
    Note
  2. 12
    verbobsoletetransitive
    To promise property as payment, or to risk losing it.

    He engaged his lands to pay off the debt.

    Thou that doest liue in later times, must wage / Thy workes for wealth, and life for gold engage.
    1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, engage means to pledge or put at risk, so life is risked for gold.
    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of engage apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Old French engagier, meaning "to pledge," made from en- plus gage. It is related to the word "wed."