engineer

1 of 2

noun

en·​gi·​neer ˌen-jə-ˈnir How to pronounce engineer (audio)
1
: a member of a military group devoted to engineering work
2
obsolete : a crafty schemer : plotter
3
a
: a designer or builder of engines
b
: a person who is trained in or follows as a profession a branch of engineering
c
: a person who carries through an enterprise by skillful or artful contrivance
4
: a person who runs or supervises an engine or an apparatus

engineer

2 of 2

verb

engineered; engineering; engineers

transitive verb

1
: to lay out, construct, or manage as an engineer
engineer a bridge
2
a
: to contrive or plan out usually with more or less subtle skill and craft
engineer a business deal
b
: to guide the course of
engineer a rally
3
: to modify or produce by genetic engineering
corn engineered to resist crop pests
Choose the Right Synonym for engineer

guide, lead, steer, pilot, engineer mean to direct in a course or show the way to be followed.

guide implies intimate knowledge of the way and of all its difficulties and dangers.

guided the scouts through the cave

lead implies showing the way and often keeping those that follow under control and in order.

led his team to victory

steer implies an ability to keep to a course and stresses the capacity of maneuvering correctly.

steered the ship through a narrow channel

pilot suggests guidance over a dangerous or complicated course.

piloted the bill through the Senate

engineer implies finding ways to avoid or overcome difficulties in achieving an end or carrying out a plan.

engineered his son's election to the governorship

Examples of engineer in a Sentence

Noun Design engineers are working on ways to make the cars run more efficiently. The engineer stopped the train. Army engineers were called in to construct the canal. Verb The rebels engineered a successful attack. the mayor engineered an agreement to have a major league team play in our city
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Mechanical engineers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have developed a new framework that speeds up the design of shock-absorbing foam materials, used in everything from sports and military helmets to spacecraft landing struts. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025 Ainsley is college-bound in 'Landman' Season 2 Unfiltered daughter Ainsley (Michelle Randolph) will head to college, leaving the modest Texas ranch‑style house Tommy shares with M-Tex lawyer Nathan (Colm Feore) and engineer roommate Dale (James Jordan). Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
Likewise, their status as disruptors has been challenged by Isak doing everything possible to engineer a transfer to Liverpool. Oliver Kay, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025 James DeMuth, founder and CEO of Seurat Technologies, is engineering a modern industrial revival with a mission rooted in resilience, national independence, and technological precision. Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for engineer

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English engineour, from Anglo-French, from enginer to devise, construct, from engin

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1635, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb

1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of engineer was circa 1635

Cite this Entry

“Engineer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/engineer. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

engineer

1 of 2 noun
en·​gi·​neer ˌen-jə-ˈni(ə)r How to pronounce engineer (audio)
1
: a member of a military group devoted to engineering work
2
a
: a designer or builder of engines
b
: a person who is trained in or follows as a profession a branch of engineering
3
: a person who runs or supervises an engine or technical machinery

engineer

2 of 2 verb
1
: to plan, build, or manage as an engineer
2
: to guide the course of
engineer a rally

Medical Definition

engineer

transitive verb
en·​gi·​neer ˌen-jə-ˈni(ə)r How to pronounce engineer (audio)
: to modify or produce by genetic engineering
insulin made by genetically engineered bacteriaTechnical Survey

More from Merriam-Webster on engineer

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