employ

[ em-ploi ]

verb (used with object)

1. to hire or engage the services of (a person or persons); provide employment for; have or keep in one's service:

   This factory employs thousands of people.

2. to make use of (an instrument, means, etc.); use; apply:

   We employ objective and scientific methods to analyze all management areas.

3. to keep busy or at work; engage the attentions of:

   He employs himself by reading after work.

4. to occupy or devote (time, energies, etc.):

   I employ my spare time in reading. I employ all my energies in writing.

noun

1. employment; service:

   to be in someone's employ.

employ

/ ɪmˈplɔɪ /

verb

1. to engage or make use of the services of (a person) in return for money; hire
2. to provide work or occupation for; keep busy; occupy

   collecting stamps employs a lot of his time

3. to use as a means

   to employ secret measures to get one's ends

noun

1. the state of being employed (esp in the phrase in someone's employ )

Derived Forms

• emˈployable, adjective
• emˌployaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• non·em·ploy·ing adjective
• o·ver·em·ploy verb (used with object)
• pre·em·ploy verb (used with object)
• re·em·ploy verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of employ¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English employen, from Anglo-French, Middle French emploier, ultimately derived from Latin implicāre “to enfold” ( Late Latin: “to engage”); implicate

Word History and Origins

Origin of employ¹

C15: from Old French emploier, from Latin implicāre to entangle, engage, from plicāre to fold

Example Sentences

“In other countries, illegal online drug markets employ the post to send drugs. In Russia, the post is extremely slow and unreliable, so local dealers came up with a new and more efficient way of distribution,” explained sociologist Alex Knorre.

From Salon

Trump and Joe Biden did not employ the method.

From BBC

Such agencies have to be established through an act of Congress and typically employ thousands of staff.

From BBC

These sites employ around 1,000 workers.

From BBC

And, crucially, he would employ the 'drop-punt', a technique predominately used in Aussie Rules football, and until this point only in very specific instances in American football, where the ball tended to be punted so that it turned end-over-end.

From BBC

Related Words

• apply
• engage
• exploit
• handle
• occupy
• operate
• spend
• use
• utilize