engage

/ɪnˈgeɪdʒ/

/ɛnˈgeɪdʒ/

Other forms: engaged; engaging; engages

Engage means to bind, catch, or involve. If your sink is stopped up, engage, or hire, a plumber to fix it. Otherwise the smell of rotten food in the garbage disposal will engage your attention (in a bad way).

Engage comes from a French word for pledge. If you agree to marry your sweetheart, you are engaged to marry. If you engage the kid next door to water your plants, she will expect to be paid for it. Engagement is also used to talk about war or conflict. An army engages its enemy in battle, just as you might engage in debate with a traffic cop over whether the light was yellow or red.

Definitions of engage

1. verb

   consume all of one's attention or time
   synonyms: absorb, engross, occupy

   types:

   involve

   occupy or engage the interest of

   consume

   engage fully

   rivet

   hold (someone's attention)

   type of:

   interest

   excite the curiosity of; engage the interest of
2. verb

   engage for service under a term of contract
   synonyms: charter, hire, lease, rent, take

   type of:

   acquire, get

   come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
3. verb

   hire for work or assistance
   “engage aid, help, services, or support”

   synonyms: enlist

   types:

   recruit

   seek to employ

   type of:

   procure, secure

   get by special effort
4. verb

   engage or hire for work
   synonyms: employ, hire

   types:

   featherbed

   hire more workers than are necessary

   fill

   appoint someone to (a position or a job)

   ship

   hire for work on a ship

   contract, sign, sign on, sign up

   engage by written agreement

   rat

   employ scabs or strike breakers in

   farm out, job, subcontract

   arranged for contracted work to be done by others

   contract out

   assign a job to someone outside one's own business
5. verb

   ask to represent; of legal counsel
   type of:

   employ, hire

   engage or hire for work
6. verb

   carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
   “They engaged in a discussion”

   synonyms: prosecute, pursue

   types:

   commit, practice

   engage in or perform

   close

   engage at close quarters

   politick

   engage in political activities

   logroll

   work toward the passage of some legislation by exchanging political favors such as trading votes

   type of:

   act, move

   perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
7. verb

   carry on (wars, battles, or campaigns)
   synonyms: wage

   types:

   offer, provide, put up

   mount or put up

   type of:

   contend, fight, struggle

   be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
8. verb

   get caught
   “make sure the gear is engaged”

   antonyms:

   disengage

   become free

   types:

   lock

   become rigid or immoveable

   type of:

   touch

   make physical contact with, come in contact with
9. verb

   keep engaged
   “engaged the gears”

   synonyms: lock, mesh, operate

   antonyms:

   disengage

   release from something that holds fast, connects, or entangles

   types:

   flip, switch, throw

   cause to go on or to be engaged or set in operation

   ride

   keep partially engaged by slightly depressing a pedal with the foot

   switch on, turn on

   cause to operate by flipping a switch

   cut, switch off, turn off, turn out

   cause to stop operating by disengaging a switch

   type of:

   displace, move

   cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense
10. verb

    give to in marriage
    synonyms: affiance, betroth, plight

    type of:

    vow

    make a vow; promise