English Reference
noun

engagement

n.
US /ɛnˈɡeɪdʒmənt/ UK /ɛnɡˈeɪdʒmənt/ en·gage·ment UK spelling engagement's, engagement's

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    an agreement or promise between two people to get married.

    the period of time or the formal agreement between two people who have promised to marry each other.

    Simple

    They announced their engagement at a small party for family and friends.

    In context

    After a three-year engagement, the couple finally decided to hold a small ceremony in the countryside rather than a large city wedding.

    betrothal
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    an arrangement to do something or meet someone at a fixed time.

    a formal arrangement to meet someone or be somewhere at a specific time, often for professional reasons.

    Simple

    The professor has a speaking engagement in London next week.

    In context

    Due to a prior engagement, the CEO was unable to attend the charity gala, though she sent a recorded message of support.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate Computing

    the amount of interest and interaction people show for a post or video online.

    a metric representing the degree of user interaction with digital content, such as likes, shares, or comments.

    Simple

    The brand's latest video got a lot of engagement on social media.

    In context

    The marketing team analysed the engagement data to determine which types of content resonated most effectively with their target demographic.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    the process of being involved with something or paying close attention to it.

    the act of participating in or being emotionally or intellectually invested in an activity or topic.

    Simple

    The teacher tried to improve student engagement by using more games in class.

    In context

    The government is seeking greater public engagement in the planning process to ensure the new infrastructure meets the needs of local residents.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced Formal

    a fight between two opposing armies or groups.

    a specific instance of active hostilities or combat between opposing military forces.

    Simple

    The naval engagement lasted for several hours before one side retreated.

    In context

    Historians often cite this brief military engagement as the turning point that led to the eventual collapse of the occupying forces.

Usage engagement on social

While he said he was “encouraged by members’ continued engagement and commitment”, there was still work to be done.

The Guardian· 13 Aug 2026

Rather, they are the product of business models that monetise attention and personal data , and of design choices built to maximise engagement and spending.

UN News· 10 Aug 2026

From French engagement. Equivalent to engage + -ment.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin French engagement
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated