engage

¹

[ en-geyj ]

verb (used with object)

, en·gaged, en·gag·ing.

1. to occupy the attention or efforts of (a person or persons):

   He engaged her in conversation.

   Synonyms: involve, interest, engross, absorb

2. to secure for aid, employment, use, etc.; hire:

   to engage a worker;

   to engage a room.

   Antonyms: discharge

3. to attract and hold fast:

   The novel engaged her attention and interest.

4. to attract or please:

   His good nature engages everyone.

5. to bind, as by pledge, promise, contract, or oath; make liable:

   He engaged himself to repay his debt within a month.

6. to betroth (usually used in the passive):

   They were engaged last week.

7. to bring (troops) into conflict; enter into conflict with:

   Our army engaged the enemy.

8. Mechanics. to cause (gears or the like) to become interlocked; interlock with.

   Antonyms: release

9. to attach or secure.
10. Obsolete. to entangle or involve.

verb (used without object)

, en·gaged, en·gag·ing.

1. to occupy oneself; become involved:

   to engage in business or politics.

2. to take employment:

   She engaged in her mother's business.

3. to pledge one's word; assume an obligation:

   I was unwilling to engage on such terms.

4. to cross weapons; enter into conflict:

   The armies engaged early in the morning.

5. Mechanics. (of gears or the like) to interlock.

engagé

²

[ French ahn-ga-zhey ]

adjective

1. choosing to involve oneself in or commit oneself to something:

   Some of the political activists grew less engagé as the years passed.

engagé

¹

/ ɑ̃ɡaʒe /

adjective

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

engage

²

/ ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ /

verb

1. to secure the services of; employ
2. to secure for use; reserve

   engage a room

3. to involve (a person or his attention) intensely; engross; occupy
4. to attract (the affection) of (a person)

   her innocence engaged him

5. to draw (somebody) into conversation
6. intr to take part; participate

   he engages in many sports

7. to promise (to do something)
8. also intr military to begin an action with (an enemy)
9. to bring (a mechanism) into operation

   he engaged the clutch

10. also intr to undergo or cause to undergo interlocking, as of the components of a driving mechanism, such as a gear train
11. machinery to locate (a locking device) in its operative position or to advance (a tool) into a workpiece to commence cutting

Derived Forms

• enˈgager, noun

Other Words From

• en·gager noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of engage¹

First recorded in 1515–25; from Middle French engager, Old French engagier; en- ¹( def ), gage ¹( def )

Origin of engage²

First recorded in 1950–55; from French: literally, “engaged”

Word History and Origins

Origin of engage¹

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

Example Sentences

I encourage pro-democracy people to engage with like-minded folks and hash it all out.

From Salon

His congressional record suggests that he would decline to bring charges against corporations that engage in financial malfeasance, pollution, and corruption.

From Slate

It said it was spurred to action after 5,000 people signed a petition calling for the change, and argued the switch would give people across the world the chance "to engage with the Welsh language and its rich culture".

From BBC

"It is deterring some people from standing to be candidates, and inhibiting how some engage with voters – both of which risk weakening our robust democratic debate."

From BBC

Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for Trump’s transition team, said in a statement that the team’s attorneys “continue to constructively engage with the Biden-Harris Administration lawyers regarding all agreements contemplated by the Presidential Transition Act” — the law governing the transition — and would announce later whether they intend to sign the documents.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• arrest
• catch
• employ
• fascinate
• immerse
• interest
• involve
• join
• participate
• preoccupy
• undertake