ENGLISH
REFERENCE

engage in sth

phrasal verb.
Definition

phrasal verb. to take part in an activity or to be involved in something.

phrasal verb. to participate in or carry out a specific activity; often implies a level of commitment, focus, or formal involvement.


SIMPLE

They often engage in sports after school.

CONTEXTUAL

The two countries decided to engage in peace talks to end the long conflict.

COMPLEX

Scholars must engage in rigorous peer review to ensure the integrity of their published research within the academic community.

  • avoid
  • withdraw from
  • abstain from
Particles
in
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
engage + in + object
Usage

usually followed by a noun representing an activity, a process, or a conversation.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'take part in' (more common for events) and 'do' (more general); 'engage in' sounds more formal and suggests a deeper level of participation.

Pitfall

He engaged into the conversation.He engaged in the conversation.the verb 'engage' requires the preposition 'in' when it means to participate.

Last updated April 24, 2026