'Engage' definitions:

Definition of 'engage'

(from WordNet)
verb
Carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in; "She pursued many activities"; "They engaged in a discussion" [syn: prosecute, engage, pursue]
verb
Consume all of one's attention or time; "Her interest in butterflies absorbs her completely" [syn: absorb, engross, engage, occupy]
verb
Engage or hire for work; "They hired two new secretaries in the department"; "How many people has she employed?" [syn: hire, engage, employ] [ant: can, dismiss, displace, fire, force out, give notice, give the axe, give the sack, sack, send away, terminate]
verb
Ask to represent; of legal counsel; "I'm retaining a lawyer"
verb
Give to in marriage [syn: betroth, engage, affiance, plight]
verb
Get caught; "make sure the gear is engaged" [ant: disengage]
verb
Carry on (wars, battles, or campaigns); "Napoleon and Hitler waged war against all of Europe" [syn: engage, wage]
verb
Hire for work or assistance; "engage aid, help, services, or support" [syn: engage, enlist]
verb
Engage for service under a term of contract; "We took an apartment on a quiet street"; "Let's rent a car"; "Shall we take a guide in Rome?" [syn: lease, rent, hire, charter, engage, take]
verb
Keep engaged; "engaged the gears" [syn: engage, mesh, lock, operate] [ant: disengage, withdraw]

Definition of 'Engage'

From: GCIDE
  • Engage \En*gage"\, v. i.
  • 1. To promise or pledge one's self; to enter into an obligation; to become bound; to warrant. [1913 Webster]
  • How proper the remedy for the malady, I engage not. --Fuller. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To embark in a business; to take a part; to employ or involve one's self; to devote attention and effort; to enlist; as, to engage in controversy. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To enter into conflict; to join battle; as, the armies engaged in a general battle. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (Mach.) To be in gear, as two cogwheels working together. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Engage'

From: GCIDE
  • Engage \En*gage"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Engaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Engaging.] [F. engager; pref. en- (L. in) + gage pledge, pawn. See Gage.]
  • 1. To put under pledge; to pledge; to place under obligations to do or forbear doing something, as by a pledge, oath, or promise; to bind by contract or promise. "I to thee engaged a prince's word." --Shak. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To gain for service; to bring in as associate or aid; to enlist; as, to engage friends to aid in a cause; to engage men for service. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. To gain over; to win and attach; to attract and hold; to draw. [1913 Webster]
  • Good nature engages everybody to him. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. To employ the attention and efforts of; to occupy; to engross; to draw on. [1913 Webster]
  • Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
  • Taking upon himself the difficult task of engaging him in conversation. --Hawthorne. [1913 Webster]
  • 5. To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to conflict. [1913 Webster]
  • A favorable opportunity of engaging the enemy. --Ludlow. [1913 Webster]
  • 6. (Mach.) To come into gear with; as, the teeth of one cogwheel engage those of another, or one part of a clutch engages the other part. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'engage'

From: Moby Thesaurus