employ

¹em·ploy

verb \im-ˈplȯi, em-\

Definition of EMPLOY

transitive verb

1

a : to make use of (someone or something inactive) <employ a pen for sketching> b : to use (as time) advantageously <a job that employed her skills> c (1) : to use or engage the services of (2) : to provide with a job that pays wages or a salary

2

: to devote to or direct toward a particular activity or person <employed all her energies to help the poor>

— em·ploy·er noun

Examples of EMPLOY

1. The company is accused of employing questionable methods to obtain the contract.
2. You should find better ways to employ your time.
3. I had to employ a lawyer to review the contract.
4. It's a small company, employing a staff of only 20.

Origin of EMPLOY

Middle English emploien, from Anglo-French empleier, emploier, emplier to entangle, apply, make use of, from Latin implicare to enfold, involve, from in- + plicare to fold — more at ply

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to EMPLOY

Synonyms: assume, engage, fee [chiefly Scottish], hire, lay on [chiefly British], pay, place, recruit, retain, sign (up or on), take on

Antonyms: ax (or axe), can, discharge, dismiss, fire, sack

Related Words: reemploy, reengage, rehire; apprentice, contract, job, partner, subcontract; enlist; advance, promote, upgrade; keep (on); headhunt, scout

Near Antonyms: furlough, lay off, lock out

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at use

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

Rhymes with EMPLOY

ahoy, alloy, annoy, bad boy, ball boy, batboy, B-boy, beachboy, bellboy, bell buoy, best boy, big boy, bok choy, borzoi, boy toy, busboy, callboy, carboy, charpoy, choirboy, convoy, cowboy, decoy, deploy, destroy, doughboy, enjoy, envoy, flyboy, footboy, Hanoi, hautbois, highboy, homeboy, houseboy, killjoy, Khoikhoi, life buoy, linkboy, lowboy, McCoy, newsboy, old boy, page boy, playboy, plowboy, po'boy, postboy, potboy, Quemoy, Rob Roy, Saint Croix, Savoy, schoolboy, sepoy, stock boy, tallboy, tatsoi, teapoy, Tolstoy, tomboy, travois, viceroy