- 1[transitive] engage something (formal) to succeed in attracting and keeping someone's attention and interest It is a movie that engages both the mind and the eye. Their pleas failed to engage any sympathy.
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- 2[transitive] engage somebody (as something) engage something engage somebody to do something (formal) to employ someone to do a particular job They engaged a consultant to review their business plan. We will have to engage the services of a translator.
- 3[intransitive] engage (with something/somebody) to become involved with and try to understand something or someone She has the ability to engage with young minds.
- 4[transitive, intransitive] engage (somebody) (formal) to begin fighting with someone to engage the enemy
- 5[intransitive, transitive] when a part of a machine engages, or when you engage it, it fits together with another part of the machine and the machine begins to work The cogwheels are not engaging. engage with something One cogwheel engages with the next. engage something Engage the clutch after selecting a gear. opposite disengage Phrasal Verbsengage in
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NAmE//ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they engage he / she / it engages
past simple engaged
-ing form engaging
Check pronunciation: engage