employ

/im'plɔi/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
employ

She decided to employ a gardener to tend her backyard.

Definition
  1. Verb:

    • To hire or engage someone for work: To give a job to someone, typically in exchange for payment.
    • To use or apply something: To make use of a tool, method, skill, or resource for a specific purpose.
  2. Noun (less common):

    • The state of being employed; employment: The condition of having paid work.
Usage Examples
  • Verb (Hire):

    • The company plans to employ five new engineers this year.
    • She was employed as a consultant for the project.
  • Verb (Use):

    • The artist employs various techniques to create texture.
    • You should employ caution when handling chemicals.
  • Noun:

    • He has been in the employ of the same firm for twenty years. (Formal)
Advanced Usage
  • "to employ oneself in/with something": To keep oneself busy with a task or activity.

    • After retiring, he employed himself in gardening and writing.
  • "to be employed in doing something": To be occupied with a specific action.

    • She is employed in compiling the annual report.
Variants and Related Words
  • Employment (n): The act of employing or the state of being employed; one's job or profession.
    • Full employment is a key economic goal.
  • Employee (n): A person employed for wages or salary.
    • All employees must attend the safety briefing.
  • Employer (n): A person or organization that employs people.
    • My employer offers excellent benefits.
  • Employable (adj): Fit or suitable to be employed.
    • The training program aims to make participants more employable.
Synonyms
  • Hire, Engage, Recruit (for the "hire" meaning).
  • Use, Utilize, Apply, Make use of (for the "use" meaning).
Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Employ" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. The related concepts are typically expressed with the noun "employment" or the verb "use.")

Related Idioms
  • In the employ of (someone/something): Working for a particular person or organization. (Formal)
    • The agent was in the employ of a foreign government.
employ

She decided to employ a gardener to tend her backyard.

Noun
  1. the state of being employed or having a job
    • they are looking for employment
    • he was in the employ of the city
Verb
  1. engage or hire for work
    • They hired two new secretaries in the department
    • How many people has she employed?
  2. put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
    • use your head!
    • we only use Spanish at home
    • I can't use this tool
    • Apply a magnetic field here
    • This thinking was applied to many projects
    • How do you utilize this tool?
    • I apply this rule to get good results
    • use the plastic bags to store the food
    • He doesn't know how to use a computer