engage

verb

in-ˈgāj How to pronounce engage (audio)
Definition of engagenext
1
as in to interest
to hold the attention of the challenging jigsaw puzzle engaged us all evening

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to face
to enter into contest or conflict with the daring young captain was eager to engage the enemy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to commit
to obligate by prior agreement we can't go to the dance because we're already engaged to attend a piano recital

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to employ
to provide with a paying job the wealthy couple are looking to engage a handyman to take care of the estate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to hire
to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum my sister and her boyfriend have engaged a chauffeured limousine for the prom

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of engage The company, co-founded by former Lionsgate UK COO Guy Avshalom, has engaged UK law firm Sheridans to argue its case. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026 Additionally, Muspratt engages the audience by sharing stories about the composers and their compositions during the concerts and greeting them in person afterward. — Barbara Vitello, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026 There are often several merit-making activities in temples that are meant to be fun and engage participants. — Brooke Schedneck, The Conversation, 24 Aug. 2026 Similarly, when using the Heat setting, the HVAC system engages the furnace, boiler, or similar heating system at the same time as the fan, increasing the amount of energy used. — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for engage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for engage
  1. interest
  2. face
  3. commit
  4. employ
  5. hire
  6. occupy
  7. meet
  8. recruit
Verb
  • If those sorts of things interest you, the paper will be great.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Businesses too small to interest a Wall Street desk can transfer a specific risk to someone willing to price it.
    — Brian Quintenz, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of interest
Verb
  • Routliffe and Glasspool will face wild-card pair Carlos Alcaraz and Serena Williams, while Errani and Vavassori will take on Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev.
    — James Hansen, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • GLP-1s aren’t covered Patients like La Marca are left in a tough spot, qualifying for Part D coverage of a GLP-1 but facing much higher cost sharing.
    — Jackie Fortiér, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of face
Verb
  • The country is also placing its hopes on automation, with the government committing 1 billion Singapore dollars ($787 million) to public AI research from 2026 to 2030.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Three of the South Dakota State commit’s six receptions ended in the end zone.
    — Jerry Birchfield, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of commit
Verb
  • This metric measures the proportion of the working-age population that is either employed or actively seeking employment.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The same restraint applies to professors, who will not be permitted to employ AI to write syllabuses or course materials.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of employ
Verb
  • Dismissing the general manager who hired Espada doesn’t bode well, but Crane made a clear distinction between the two men during the aftermath.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Scott hired Luca Khouri, a Jamaican artist, to photograph the campaign at the end of March, which was styled by Marika-Ella Ames.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of hire
Verb
  • Netanyahu’s hard-line government has been accused of turning a blind eye to the settler attacks in the West Bank, which many governments around the world consider illegally occupied.
    — F. Brinley Bruton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
  • But no one has lived in the house since 2010, when it was occupied by architects Sirkka and Robert Damora for about five decades after the Booths.
    — Nora DeLigter, Curbed, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of occupy
Verb
  • Lake Zurich and Antioch met twice last season, including in a second-round playoff game.
    — Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Big picture The league and the union are meeting regularly on various topics, but their disagreement on core economics — whether to move to a cap system — leaves little room for progress on the major issues.
    — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of meet
Verb
  • Serving as the territory’s secretary of education between 2013 and 2017, overseeing all of its public schools from kindergarten through high school, he was recruited to Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 as a teacher.
    — Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Somebody had to recruit before UCF was a recognizable national brand.
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of recruit

Phrases Containing engage

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enfranchising
engage
engaged
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Cite this Entry

“Engage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/engage. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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