# engage

/ɛnˈɡeɪdʒ/ (US) · /ɛnɡˈeɪdʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/engage
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to participate or involve

verb · CEFR B2

to take part in something or to get someone's interest and attention.

For teachers: to occupy or attract someone's interest or attention; to involve oneself in a task or conversation.

- The teacher tried to engage the students in a discussion about the book.
- The lecturer struggled to engage the audience, as the technical complexity of the subject matter exceeded the listeners' prior knowledge.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'with' when describing interaction.

### 2. to hire

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to hire someone to do a job or provide a service.

For teachers: to arrange to employ or use someone's services, typically in a professional or formal context.

- The company decided to engage a lawyer to review the new contract.
- The board of directors voted to engage a specialist consultancy firm to oversee the restructuring of the international divisions.

### 3. to connect parts

verb · CEFR B2 · Technical

to fit parts of a machine together so that they move.

For teachers: to cause parts of a mechanism to fit together or mesh, allowing power to be transmitted.

- You need to engage the clutch before you can change gears.
- The safety mechanism will only engage once the primary sensors confirm that the protective housing is fully sealed.

Usage: Can be used transitively (engage the gear) or intransitively (the gear engages).

### 4. to fight

verb · CEFR B2

to start a fight or battle with an enemy.

For teachers: to enter into conflict or combat with an opposing force.

- The soldiers were ordered not to engage the enemy until they had backup.
- The naval commander was hesitant to engage the fleet, fearing that the narrow strait would limit his ships' ability to manoeuvre.

## Examples

- The teacher tries to engage the students with a fun game.
- The company decided to engage a local law firm to handle the complex merger negotiations.
- The pilot waited for the gears to engage fully before increasing the engine power for takeoff, ensuring the mechanical connection was secure.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.