engage

[ en-geyj ]

/ ɛnˈgeɪdʒ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR engage ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

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.

Origin of engage

1515–25; < Middle French engager, Old French engagier. See en-¹, gage¹

SYNONYMS FOR engage

1 absorb, engross, interest, involve.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR engage ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR engage

2 discharge.

8 release.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR engage ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM engage

en·gag·er, noun

Words nearby engage

enfranchise, eng, eng., eng. d., engadine, engage, engaged, engaged tone, engagement, engagement calendar, engagement ring

Definition for engage (2 of 2)

engagé

[ French ahn-ga-zhey ]

/ French ɑ̃ gaˈʒeɪ /

adjective

choosing to involve oneself in or commit oneself to something: Some of the political activists grew less engagé as the years passed.

Origin of engagé

1950–55; < French: literally, engaged

Example sentences from the Web for engage

Then we all have to do our part to engage the officers and our community, and hold everyone accountable in the process.

How to Solve the Policing Crisis |Keli Goff |January 5, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
The Millennial Action Project (MAP) seeks to engage young people in politics and give them more of a voice in governing.

When Will We See a #Millennial Congress? |Linda Killian |December 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Not that he ever planned to engage in the controversy directly.

Rob Marshall Defends ‘Into the Woods’ |Kevin Fallon |December 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Cook walked more slowly than most, stopping to engage with passersby who expressed their own frustration and support.

‘They Let Him Off?’ Scenes from NYC in Disbelief |Jacob Siegel |December 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Such messages are unlikely to be beloved of secularists who prefer to scoff at the religious rather than engage with them.

Extreme Weather? Blame the End Times |Jay Michaelson |November 28, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Twice England appeared likely to engage in war with France—in 1844 and 1846—while Peel was in power.

A History of England |Charles Oman
The Dutch, who have retained in a debased form their own language, also engage largely in agriculture and viticulture.

Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 2 |Various
The primitive Right, then, is a Right to engage in these employments.

Harmonies of Political Economy |Frdric Bastiat
A bondman could not marry without his master's consent; nor engage in trade; nor refuse work assigned to him.

History of the United States |Charles A. Beard and Mary R. Beard
Her father had taught her never to engage in a battle of words if she could possibly avoid it, especially with an older person.

The Motor Maids by Palm and Pine |Katherine Stokes

British Dictionary definitions for engage (1 of 2)

engage

/ (ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ) /

verb (mainly tr)

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

Derived forms of engage

engager, noun

Word Origin for engage

C15: from Old French engagier, from en- 1 + gage a pledge, see gage 1

British Dictionary definitions for engage (2 of 2)

engagé

/ French (ɑ̃ɡaʒe) /

adjective

(of a writer or artist, esp a man) morally or politically committed to some ideology

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

engage

verb (used with object), en·gaged, en·gag·ing.

verb (used without object), en·gaged, en·gag·ing.

Origin of engage

SYNONYMS FOR engage

ANTONYMS FOR engage

OTHER WORDS FROM engage

Words nearby engage

Definition for engage (2 of 2)

adjective

Origin of engagé

Example sentences from the Web for engage

British Dictionary definitions for engage (1 of 2)

verb (mainly tr)

Derived forms of engage

Word Origin for engage

British Dictionary definitions for engage (2 of 2)

adjective

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

engage

verb (used with object), en·gaged, en·gag·ing.

verb (used without object), en·gaged, en·gag·ing.

Origin of engage

SYNONYMS FOR engage

ANTONYMS FOR engage

OTHER WORDS FROM engage

Words nearby engage

Definition for engage (2 of 2)

adjective

Origin of engagé

Words related to engage

Example sentences from the Web for engage

British Dictionary definitions for engage (1 of 2)

verb (mainly tr)

Derived forms of engage

Word Origin for engage

British Dictionary definitions for engage (2 of 2)

adjective