engage

CEFRB2

/ɪnˈɡeɪd͡ʒ/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To become involved in an activity or conversation.

  2. 02

    verb

    To attract someone's interest or attention.

Examples

  • I have no time to engage in gossip.

  • Others engage in volunteer work.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
1

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To interact socially.

  2. To engross or hold the attention of; to keep busy or occupied.

  3. To attract, to please; (archaic) to fascinate or win over (someone).

More examples

In context

  • They were engaged last month! They're planning to have the wedding next year.

  • Whenever I engage the clutch, the car stalls out.

  • 1698-1699, Edmund Ludlow, Memoirs a favourable opportunity of engaging the enemy

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The teacher tries to blank students with interactive group activities in class.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English engagen, from Old French engagier (“to pledge, engage”), from Frankish *anwadjōn (“to pledge”), from Proto-Germanic *an-, *andi- + Proto-Germanic *wadjōną (“to pledge, secure”), from Proto-Germanic *wadją (“pledge, guarantee”), from Proto-Indo-European *wedʰ- (“to pledge, redeem a pledge; guarantee, bail”), equivalent to en- + gage. Cognate with Old English anwedd (“pledge, security”), Old English weddian (“to engage, covenant, undertake”), German wetten (“to bet, wager”), Icelandic veðja (“to wager”). More at wed.