26984 words

engages

12 definitions • 16 examples
1
to employ someone:

Examples:

[ + to infinitive ] I have engaged a secretary to deal with all my paperwork.
2
to interest someone in something and keep them thinking about it:

Examples:

The debate about food safety has engaged the whole nation.
engage someone’s interest If a book doesn't engage my interest in the first few pages, I don't usually continue reading it.
3
to become involved, or have contact, with someone or something:

Examples:

She's an intelligent child but in class she doesn't really engage.
engage with Just stay out of his way as much as possible, and don't engage with him.
4
to make one part of a machine fit into and move together with another part of a machine:

Examples:

engage (with) When the large gear wheel engages (with the smaller one), the mill stone will start to go round.
5
to attack or begin to fight someone:

Examples:

Enemy planes engaged the troops as they advanced into the mountains.
6
to teach someone, especially a class of children, or to keep someone busy
7
especially of a writer, musician, artist, etc. interested in and taking part in politics
8
to cause someone to become interested or involved in an activity, or to attract someone’s interest:

Examples:

He wrote about things that engaged him.
9
to fit one part of a machine into another so they move together, or cause something to fit into and move together:

Examples:

[ I ] The gears won’t engage.
[ T ] You need to engage second gear.
10

Examples:

The marines engaged the enemy.
11
to arrange to employ someone; hire:

Examples:

Her family engaged a tutor to teach her French.
12
to employ someone:

Examples:

engage sb (to do sth) They have engaged accountancy firm Ernst & Young to approach financial institutions for funding on their behalf.
It would be prudent to engage the services of a lawyer to help with this matter.

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