Engage (Verb)
Meaning 1
Give to in marriage.
Classification
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing.
Examples
- The couple's families agreed to engage them to each other as soon as he returned from college.
- The tradition requires the parents to engage their children to suitable partners before they turn 18.
- Her parents had chosen a man for her to marry and decided to engage them a few months prior.
- In some cultures, couples who are to be married are first engaged by their families with a private ceremony.
- They consented to engage their daughter to the wealthy merchant's son, seeking a brighter future.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Related Words
Meaning 2
Hire for work or assistance; "engage aid, help, services, or support".
Classification
Verbs of buying, selling, owning.
Examples
- The company will engage a financial expert to oversee the merger negotiations.
- She plans to engage a personal trainer to help her reach her fitness goals.
- The entrepreneur will engage a team of professionals to help launch her new business.
- The charity will engage a local volunteer group to assist with the fundraising event.
- The school will engage a tutor to provide extra support to struggling students.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 3
Get caught; "make sure the gear is engaged".
Classification
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..
Examples
- Make sure the parking brake is fully engaged before leaving the vehicle.
- The mechanic had to check if the clutch was properly engaged before shifting gears.
- Failure to engage the safety catch can result in serious injury while operating heavy machinery.
- Ensure that the seatbelt is securely engaged by hearing the distinct click sound.
- When towing a trailer, always make sure the tow hitch is fully engaged to avoid untimely detachment.
Antonyms
Related Words
Meaning 4
Carry on (wars, battles, or campaigns); "Napoleon and Hitler waged war against all of Europe".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- Germany will engage the enemy forces on the Eastern Front in a fierce battle.
- The US-led coalition forces are set to engage the enemy in a counterinsurgency campaign.
- Japanese forces were instructed to engage and destroy any foreign vessels in the surrounding waters.
- The general ordered his troops to engage the enemy in a surprise attack at dawn.
- British forces would engage the enemy positions for several days without gaining ground in Normandy.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 5
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?".
Classification
Verbs of buying, selling, owning.
Examples
- We engaged a live-in chef for a period of six months to manage our kitchen.
- I will engage a personal trainer for one year to help me achieve my fitness goals.
- We propose to engage a catering service to manage the food at our wedding.
- The company will engage a project manager for the duration of the construction project.
- If you want to tour the city efficiently, consider engaging a knowledgeable tour guide.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 6
Keep engaged; "engaged the gears".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- She struggled to engage the gears of her old car as she drove uphill.
- In a bid to keep the children engaged, the teacher used interactive and multimedia tools in her lessons.
- The team had to stay focused and engaged throughout the grueling training sessions to prepare for the championship.
- To engage the parking brake, pull the lever all the way up until it clicks into place.
- As the pilot began her descent, she had to engage the landing gear manually due to a system failure.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 7
Carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in; "She pursued many activities"; "They engaged in a discussion".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The company will engage in a significant expansion project over the next five years.
- They engaged in a heated argument after the referee made a questionable call.
- The local community will engage in a charity walk to raise funds for a children's hospital.
- The professor encouraged her students to engage in a healthy debate about the issue.
- Governments must engage in international cooperation to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 8
Consume all of one's attention or time; "Her interest in butterflies absorbs her completely".
Classification
Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting.
Examples
- The novel's intricate plot will engage you completely, making it impossible to put down.
- The researcher found that watching cat videos online could engage people for hours.
- Her passion for painting will engage her for hours on end every day.
- The addictive video game has a way of engage the player's full attention.
- Gaming can engage an entire weekend, and before you know it, the entire week.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Hyponyms
Meaning 9
Engage or hire for work; "They hired two new secretaries in the department"; "How many people has she employed?".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- The company will engage several new designers by the end of the quarter to manage their increasing workload.
- She decided to engage the help of a part-time assistant to help her meet deadlines.
- The freelance writer was recently engaged by a popular magazine to contribute regular columns.
- Several new graduates have been engaged by the tech firm as software engineers.
- The artist will engage a team of professionals to create an impressive exhibit for the upcoming event.
Synonyms
Hyponyms
Related Words
Meaning 10
Ask to represent; of legal counsel; "I'm retaining a lawyer".
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- We will engage a top lawyer to handle your case and ensure the best possible outcome.
- I want to engage the services of a lawyer who has experience in family law.
- The company will engage external counsel to advise on the merger and acquisition.
- You should engage an attorney who specializes in intellectual property law to protect your invention.
- We have decided to engage a local law firm to represent us in the upcoming trial.