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 Attackers will engage first because AI gives them scale and velocity. — Bob Ackerman, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026 The exhibit is designed for all ages, with some experiences created specifically to engage younger visitors. — Megan Fitzgerald, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 They were found to sharply increase how long people continued to engage, but often for reasons of anger and curiosity, rather than enjoyment. — Pascal Vrticka, Scientific American, 4 Oct. 2026 An ‘apathetic polarization’ The vote comes at a time of deep polarization among the electorate, who are slower to engage than in previous races. — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 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
  • The serious question of, frankly, human survival did not seem to interest them at all.
    — Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Cranor said a person’s risk depends on how often they are targeted, their security habits, their ability to recognize suspicious messages, and whether the lure really interests them.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of interest
Verb
  • Brendan McDermid | Reuters Billionaire investor Ray Dalio warned on Thursday that stocks face mounting pressure from rising bond yields and the prospect of weaker corporate cash flows, even as earnings continue to grow.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Yet people who use drugs continue to face significant stigma in our health care system and in the broader public policy debate.
    — Philip A. Chan, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of face
Verb
  • Williams was charged later that year with kidnapping, assault, conspiracy to commit a felony and first-degree arson.
    — Breaking News, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The awards spotlight those who commit to advancing justice worldwide while often taking on great personal risk.
    — Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of commit
Verb
  • The company is walking the walk, employing myriad strategies to stay current and anticipate consumer needs in an increasingly fast-moving market.
    — Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Siemens Healthineers is a medical technology company headquartered in Erlangen, Germany, and employs 74,000 people worldwide.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of employ
Verb
  • Chesney told fans during a UCLA men’s basketball game shortly after he was hired that the football team is playing for banners.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Meanwhile, public records show the firms hired to represent the officials racked up hefty legal bills, with some lawyers charging the state $800 an hour.
    — Kate Payne, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of hire
Verb
  • Not far away, armed men had been occupying makeshift barricades, blocking roads and turning some drivers away.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Three women sit in front of me, each one occupying a salon chair in a tiny room with a single shampoo bowl, and one window that faces a bare, enclosed courtyard with yellowing grass.
    — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of occupy
Verb
  • Sheffield then met Tamboran’s CEO at the time, Alabama native Joel Riddle.
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The couple met when Anson attended one of McCollum’s parties in 1978.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of meet
Verb
  • To help recruit a younger demographic, Clarins has teamed with Pop Mart to create product packaging featuring an illustrated girl character, named Molly in Paris.
    — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The advisor who ends up on a board wasn’t there to be recruited.
    — Jennifer Hoffmann, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of recruit

Phrases Containing engage

Browse Nearby Words

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 14 Oct. 2026.

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