engage Meaning, Definition & Usage

verb carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
pursue; prosecute.
- She pursued many activities
- They engaged in a discussion
verb consume all of one's attention or time
engross; absorb; occupy.
- Her interest in butterflies absorbs her completely
verb engage or hire for work
employ; hire.
- They hired two new secretaries in the department
- How many people has she employed?
verb ask to represent; of legal counsel
- I'm retaining a lawyer
verb give to in marriage
plight; betroth; affiance.
verb get caught
- make sure the gear is engaged
verb carry on (wars, battles, or campaigns)
wage.
- Napoleon and Hitler waged war against all of Europe
verb hire for work or assistance
enlist.
- engage aid, help, services, or support
verb engage for service under a term of contract
hire; charter; take; lease; rent.
- We took an apartment on a quiet street
- Let's rent a car
- Shall we take a guide in Rome?
verb keep engaged
lock; mesh; operate.
- engaged the gears

F. engager; pref. en- (L. in) + gage pledge, pawn. See Gage.

imperfect & past participle Engaged ; present participle & verbal noun Engaging

To put under pledge; to pledge; to place under obligations to do or forbear doing something, as by a pledge, oath, or promise; to bind by contract or promise. "I to thee engaged a prince's word." Shak.
To gain for service; to bring in as associate or aid; to enlist; as, to engage friends to aid in a cause; to engage men for service.
To gain over; to win and attach; to attract and hold; to draw.
Good nature engages everybody to him. Addison.
To employ the attention and efforts of; to occupy; to engross; to draw on.
Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage. Pope.

Taking upon himself the difficult task of engaging him in conversation. Hawthorne.
To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to conflict.
A favorable opportunity of engaging the enemy. Ludlow.
(Mach.) To come into gear with; as, the teeth of one cogwheel engage those of another, or one part of a clutch engages the other part.

To promise or pledge one's self; to enter into an obligation; to become bound; to warrant.
How proper the remedy for the malady, I engage not. Fuller.
To embark in a business; to take a part; to employ or involve one's self; to devote attention and effort; to enlist; as, to engage in controversy.
To enter into conflict; to join battle; as, the armies engaged in a general battle.
(Mach.) To be in gear, as two cogwheels working together.