View synonyms for engage

engage

[ en-geyj ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with object)

, en·gaged, en·gag·ing.

to occupy the attention or efforts of (a person or persons):
He engaged her in conversation.
Synonyms: involve, interest, engross, absorb
to secure for aid, employment, use, etc.; hire:
to engage a worker;
to engage a room.
Antonyms: discharge
to attract and hold fast:
The novel engaged her attention and interest.
to attract or please:
His good nature engages everyone.
to bind, as by pledge, promise, contract, or oath; make liable:
He engaged himself to repay his debt within a month.
to betroth (usually used in the passive):
They were engaged last week.
to bring (troops) into conflict; enter into conflict with:
Our army engaged the enemy.
Mechanics. to cause (gears or the like) to become interlocked; interlock with.
Antonyms: release
to attach or secure.
Obsolete. to entangle or involve.

verb (used without object)

, en·gaged, en·gag·ing.

to occupy oneself; become involved:
to engage in business or politics.
to take employment:
She engaged in her mother's business.
to pledge one's word; assume an obligation:
I was unwilling to engage on such terms.
to cross weapons; enter into conflict:
The armies engaged early in the morning.
Mechanics. (of gears or the like) to interlock.

engagé

[ French ahn-ga-zhey ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

choosing to involve oneself in or commit oneself to something:
Some of the political activists grew less engagé as the years passed.

engage

/ ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ /

verb

to secure the services of; employ
to secure for use; reserve
engage a room
to involve (a person or his attention) intensely; engross; occupy
to attract (the affection) of (a person)
her innocence engaged him
to draw (somebody) into conversation
intr to take part; participate
he engages in many sports
to promise (to do something)
also intr military to begin an action with (an enemy)
to bring (a mechanism) into operation
he engaged the clutch
also intr to undergo or cause to undergo interlocking, as of the components of a driving mechanism, such as a gear train
machinery to locate (a locking device) in its operative position or to advance (a tool) into a workpiece to commence cutting

engagé

/ ɑ̃ɡaʒe /

adjective

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

Discover More

Derived Forms

enˈgager, noun

Discover More

Other Words From

en·gager noun

Discover More

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”

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of engage¹

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

Discover More

Example Sentences

An engagé then knelt upon him to put on the harness, but when this was done he discovered that he had killed the poor dog.

From Project Gutenberg

In one of our hospitals was a young lad of seventeen, who had managed to enlist as an "engagé volontaire" by lying as to his age.

From Project Gutenberg

He was at this time twenty-six years old, and had formerly been an engagé of the Jesuits.

From Project Gutenberg

Tis true he served you, and was your engagé on the voyage hither.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

Word of the Day

April 19, 2024tortuous

[tawr-choo-uhs ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Browse