Definition

1. Verb:
   • To hire or employ someone for work or services: To formally arrange for a person's services, often for payment.
   • To occupy or attract someone's attention or interest: To capture and hold someone's focus or involvement.
   • To participate or become involved in an activity: To take part in or commit to a specific action or process.
   • To enter into a formal agreement or promise, especially to marry: To pledge or commit, as in a betrothal.
   • To cause parts to interlock or mesh (mechanical): To cause gears or components to connect and work together.
   • To begin fighting with an enemy (military): To start a battle or conflict.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • The company decided to engage a new consultant for the project. (To hire)
  • The teacher's story engaged the students completely. (To occupy attention)
  • He engaged in a long debate about climate policy. (To participate in)
  • They got engaged last summer and are planning a wedding. (To promise to marry)
  • Remember to engage the parking brake before you leave the car. (To cause to interlock)
  • The two armies engaged at dawn. (To begin fighting)

Advanced Usage

• "to engage someone in conversation": to start or involve someone in a discussion.
  • She tried to engage the shy guest in conversation.
• "to engage with an idea/a text": to interact with or think deeply about something.
  • The course encourages students to engage with primary historical sources.
• "to be engaged in": to be busy with or involved in an activity.
  • He was engaged in writing his report all afternoon.

Variants and Related Words

• Engaged (adjective): Busy; occupied; or formally pledged to be married.
  • The line is engaged; please call back later.
  • She is engaged to a doctor.
• Engagement (noun): A formal agreement to get married; an appointment or arrangement; or a period of hired employment.
  • They announced their engagement.
  • I have a prior engagement on Tuesday.
• Engaging (adjective): Charming and attractive, often holding interest.
  • He has a very engaging personality.

Synonyms

• Employ/Hire: To use the services of someone for payment.
• Involve: To include as a necessary part or result.
• Absorb: To engross the attention of someone fully.
• Participate: To take part in an activity.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Engage in: To participate or become involved in.
  • The government refuses to engage in talks with the terrorists.
• Engage with: To interact with or pay attention to.
  • Politicians must engage with the concerns of ordinary citizens.

Related Idioms

• Engage brain before mouth: (Humorous) Think before you speak.
  • Sometimes you need to engage brain before mouth to avoid trouble.

Verb

1. keep engaged
   • engaged the gears
2. engage for service under a term of contract
   • We took an apartment on a quiet street
   • Let's rent a car
   • Shall we take a guide in Rome?
3. hire for work or assistance
   • engage aid, help, services, or support
4. carry on (wars, battles, or campaigns)
   • Napoleon and Hitler waged war against all of Europe
5. get caught
   • make sure the gear is engaged
6. give to in marriage
7. ask to represent; of legal counsel
   • I'm retaining a lawyer
8. engage or hire for work
   • They hired two new secretaries in the department
   • How many people has she employed?
9. consume all of one's attention or time
   • Her interest in butterflies absorbs her completely
10. carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
    • She pursued many activities
    • They engaged in a discussion