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| Date: | 1500-1600 |
| Language: | French |
| Origin: | engager, from gage 'something given as a promise' |
Related topics:
1 [intransitive always + preposition] to be doing or to become involved in an activity
engage in/on/upon 
Only 10% of American adults engage in regular exercise.The two parties engaged upon an escalating political struggle. Mr Armstrong was engaged in prayer.
Only 10% of American adults engage in regular exercise.The two parties engaged upon an escalating political struggle.Mr Armstrong was engaged in prayer.2 [transitive] to attract someone's attention and keep them interested
engage somebody in conversation (=start talking to them)
3 to get involved with other people and their ideas in order to understand them : Are you so tired you don't have the energy to engage with your kids?
engage with somebody/something
Are you so tired you don't have the energy to engage with your kids?4 [transitive]BE formal to employ someone to do a particular job
5T [intransitive and transitive] if you engage part of a machine, or if it engages, it moves so that it fits into another part of the machine [≠ disengage]: She engaged the clutch and the car moved.
She engaged the clutch and the car moved.6 [intransitive and transitive]PM to begin to fight an enemy : American forces did not directly engage.
American forces did not directly engage.
