engage

/ɪnˈɡeɪd͡ʒ/

verb 17
engagé adjective 1
engagé noun 1
forms 9
phrases 1

verb17

To interact socially.
•
To draw into conversation.
- Shapps refused to engage with the unions and claimed that the industrial disputes were nothing to do with him, despite controlling the purse strings. — 2022
•
to hold someone's attention and keep them busy with something
- Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage, / The promis'd father of the future age. — 1712
To attract, to please; (archaic) to fascinate or win over (someone).
To guarantee or promise (to do something).
•
To bind through legal or moral obligation (to do something, especially to marry) (usually in passive).
- They were engaged last month! They're planning to have the wedding next year.
To interact mechanically.
•
To mesh or interlock (of machinery, especially a clutch).
- Whenever I engage the clutch, the car stalls out.
•
To come into gear with.
- The teeth of one cogwheel engage those of another.
•
To activate a lock.
- He engaged the lock on the door.
- The lock engaged automatically when the door was shut.
•
To arrange to employ or use (a worker, a space, etc.).
- Rich Jews used to engage Christian music-teachers to teach their daughters German vocal and instrumental music. — 1929
To interact antagonistically.
To enter into conflict with (an enemy).
To enter into battle.
To interact contractually.
•
(no longer used) To pledge, pawn (one's property); to put (something) at risk or on the line; to mortgage (houses, land).
- Thou that doest liue in later times, must wage / Thy workes for wealth, and life for gold engage. — 1590
(no longer used) To entangle.

engagé adjective1

•
Passionately committed to a cause.
- Fortunately, most scholars, engagé or not, are willing to deal with differing ponts of view. — 1983

engagé noun1

•
(historical) Someone serving under a contract of engagement.
- For the seasonal engagé – the “porkeater” going to Grand Portage – the engagement provided an extra source of income to supplement a primary occupation elsewhere. — 2004

forms

engag'd · engaged · engaging · engages · engageth · engagest · engagés · more engagé · most engagé

Phrases with engage

engage in
To start performing (an activity).