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.

engage

¹

/ 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

engagé

²

/ ɑ̃ɡaʒe /

adjective

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

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

Crucially, the team engaged with critics rather than just dismissing them.

From MIT Technology Review

Keep your knees bent, your feet flat on the floor, and your core engaged.

From Outside Online

People with good paying jobs like supervisors, managers, directors, and vice presidents do not normally engage in theft, drug deals, or gang activity.

From Fortune

Some lawmakers feared that landlords would literally run tenants off of properties at gunpoint or engage other forms of extralegal self-help.

From No Straight News

Food isn’t the only thing we share, but eating is a particularly good example of a shared activity because it’s necessary, and because we engage in it throughout our lives—unlike playing with blocks, perhaps.

From Fortune

Then we all have to do our part to engage the officers and our community, and hold everyone accountable in the process.

From The Daily Beast

The Millennial Action Project (MAP) seeks to engage young people in politics and give them more of a voice in governing.

From The Daily Beast

Not that he ever planned to engage in the controversy directly.

From The Daily Beast

Cook walked more slowly than most, stopping to engage with passersby who expressed their own frustration and support.

From The Daily Beast

Such messages are unlikely to be beloved of secularists who prefer to scoff at the religious rather than engage with them.

From The Daily Beast

He continued its sale, however, as a kingly monopoly, allowing only those to engage in it who paid him for the privilege.

From Project Gutenberg

We have other things to engage us now, but I sometimes think all is not gain that the march of progress brings.

From Project Gutenberg

I only engage that the engine shall be equal to a B. and Watt's 72-inch single, but it will be equal to a double 72-inch cylinder.

From Project Gutenberg

A ship will sail for the South Sea fishery in about five weeks, and will engage to take the whole of the engines.

From Project Gutenberg

In the instructions that may be given to Uville, it shall be stipulated on what terms he may engage one or two English workmen.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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