employ
/im'plɔi/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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.
Noun
- the state of being employed or having a job
- they are looking for employment
- he was in the employ of the city
Verb
- engage or hire for work
- They hired two new secretaries in the department
- How many people has she employed?
- 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