English Reference

Word

engagement

Phoneticsen·gage·ment, stress on the second syllable

US/ɛnˈɡeɪdʒmənt/

UK/ɛnɡˈeɪdʒmənt/

Definitions

01promise to marry

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. an agreement or promise between two people to get married.

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

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

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

Synonyms

betrothal

Antonyms

02professional appointment

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Formal

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

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

“The professor has a speaking engagement in London next week.”

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

03internet interaction

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Computing

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

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

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

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

04involvement or interest

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Academic

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

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

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

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

05military battle

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal

n. a fight between two opposing armies or groups.

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

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

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

Antonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “engagement” in context.

Verb

01. break off an engagement

“They decided to break off their engagement after realizing they had different values.”

verb + noun

02. foster engagement

“The teacher used interactive games to foster engagement among the students.”

verb + noun

03. honor a prior engagement

“I would love to attend the gala, but I must honor a prior engagement that evening.”

verb + noun

Adjective

04. civic engagement

“The university encourages civic engagement through local volunteer programs.”

adj + noun

05. meaningful engagement

“The new platform aims to facilitate meaningful engagement between creators and fans.”

adj + noun

Noun

06. level of engagement

“We need to analyze the level of engagement on our latest social media campaign.”

noun + of + noun

07. rules of engagement

“The soldiers were briefed on the rules of engagement before entering the zone.”

noun + of + noun

Preposition

08. in an engagement

“The two naval vessels were locked in a fierce engagement for several hours.”

prep + noun

09. engagement on social

Real-World Examples

“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
“While he said he was “encouraged by members’ continued engagement and commitment”, there was still work to be done.”
The Guardian 13 Aug 2026

Etymology

From French engagement. Equivalent to engage + -ment.

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

Synonyms

Antonyms

Word family

NOUN

engagement(C1)

Domain

Internet

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
Frequency
Common
Level
C1 · AdvancedOxford
Updated

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English Reference