Definition of engagenext
1
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
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

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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 According to the recall notice posted by the NHTSA, the transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage. Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 30 June 2026 Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, staying socially engaged and getting enough sleep remain among the most important lifestyle factors associated with better brain health. Lauren Pastrana, CBS News, 29 June 2026 Over the past year, the Army has engaged investors, infrastructure funds, energy developers, manufacturers, technology firms, and financial institutions representing hundreds of billions of dollars in investment capacity. Marc Andersen, Fortune, 30 June 2026 Effective delivery also requires using engaging visuals, incorporating storytelling for emotional connection, and developing strong physical presence. William Arruda, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for engage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for engage
Verb
  • Nothing that would interest a musicologist in any serious forensic sense.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 6 July 2026
  • These are novels about bohemian communities of friends and lovers and artistic collaborators, which is a big part of what interests me about AIDS activism.
    Sarah Schulman, Literary Hub, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • But the court also said the people facing deportation must pursue their cases individually where they are being held, under what are called habeas petitions, rather than collectively, under what is called a class action.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • The University of California Health system and Cigna, facing a July 1 deadline to reach a new contract covering a large group of Sacramento-area patients, have agreed to an extension to allow more time for negotiations.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Florida has been legally committed to this question for more than 30 years.
    Masha Pearl, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026
  • All of the democratic socialist legislators, including then-Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, were smart enough to stay away, figuring this was not the moment to cheer Hamas, even for those committed to the Palestinian cause.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Verb
  • Krystal McFeders, a Unified Government spokesperson, confirmed Friday night that Chism is employed by the government.
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
  • Should economic growth threaten one of those aspects, the FOMC is employed to move in order to deliver its objectives.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • Participants in the civil proceedings can hire private stenographers to maintain a record of what’s said, but their services can run thousands of dollars a day.
    Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Under basic labor law, MLB could hire temporary workers during a lockout, but that is not going to happen.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • There is a wide open space for Democrats to occupy that territory.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
  • Beneath those practical debates, however, American lawyers have gradually come to understand themselves as occupying two roles simultaneously, as Robert Gordon described.
    Joseph Andrew, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • The pair met in English class on the first day of their freshman year.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • The platform is scalable and can be deployed to meet the power demands of AI data centers and even support the grid.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • At that point, college programs weren’t lining up to recruit a 187-pound pass rusher who hadn’t played a down of high school football.
    Austin Meek, New York Times, 2 July 2026
  • There is a warning in all of this for the companies working hardest to recruit and retain young Black talent.
    Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Engage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/engage. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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