1
: a machine for converting any of various forms of energy into mechanical force and motion
also
: a mechanism or object that serves as an energy source
black holes may be the engines for quasars
2
: a railroad locomotive
3
a
: something used to effect a purpose : agent, instrument
mournful and terrible engine of horror and of crime—
E. A. Poe
E. A. Poe
b
: something that produces a particular and usually desirable result
engines of economic growth
4
a
b
: any of various mechanical appliances
—often used in combination
fire engine
c
: a mechanical tool: such as
(1)
: an instrument or machine of war
(2)
obsolete
: a torture implement
5
: computer software that performs a fundamental function especially of a larger program
engineless
adjective
Synonyms
Examples of engine in a Sentence
Noun
The car has a four-cylinder engine.
tanks, planes, and other engines of war
The tax cut could be an engine of economic growth.
Recent Examples on the WebUSA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Nearly 43,000 vehicles are impacted by the recall, including the 2022 Escape and the 2022 and 2023 Bronco Sport editions that have 1.5L engines, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
—Ayana Archie, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
German industry declines Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany has found itself in the unusual position of becoming the major laggard in Europe’s stuttering economic engine.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 11 Apr. 2024
Even pricey technology stocks — the primary profit engine in the previous quarter — are again expected to be supported by solid results.
—Sagarika Jaisinghani, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Questions about anti-icing equipment on the Max engines would have required Boeing to get a waiver from the FAA to get the Max 10 and a smaller Max 7 model certified.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
Purdue had a working railroad engine in its locomotive laboratory.
—NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
Earlier this month, the State Department authorized the transfer of 25 F-35A fighter jets and engines worth roughly $2.5 billion, U.S. officials said.
—John Hudson The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 31 Mar. 2024
Winter said the lack of fishing income combined with the state’s tightening air-quality standards for engine exhaust could drive him out of business.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 30 Mar. 2023
So much has changed over the past decade or so, from the size and shape of the cars to engine technology and the use of smaller sensors.
—Joel Shapiro, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2023
Is there any benefit to directing the executive who oversees engine procurement to procure electricity as well?
—Marc Levinson, WSJ, 28 July 2022
Vehicle telematics works by simply installing a device with a SIM card that allows remotely acquiring vehicle information like location, speed, tire pressure, and engine idle in real-time, faster and more accurately than ever before.
—Ekim Saribardak, Forbes, 12 Nov. 2021
Every decision during a race, from timing a pit stop and choosing the tires to engine settings and brake balance, is grounded in granular data.
—Luc Hennekens, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2021
From crying babies to engine turbines, the earbuds provided smooth listening and drowned out all distractions.
—Nina Huang, EW.com, 23 Aug. 2021
Boeing and Airbus have often timed all-new aircraft to engine technology that provides a step-change in efficiency, such as the GEnx turbofans that made Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner twin-aisle greener and quieter than its predecessors.
—BostonGlobe.com, 14 June 2021
Changes to the truck, from chassis to body to engine to interior, reflect consumer needs, requests and complaints.
—Tribune News Service, cleveland, 2 Jan. 2021
Noun
The remedy also includes a free engine control software update to detect a pressure drop in the fuel injection system, the federal regulator reported.
—USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024
Nearly 43,000 vehicles are impacted by the recall, including the 2022 Escape and the 2022 and 2023 Bronco Sport editions that have 1.5L engines, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
—Ayana Archie, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
German industry declines Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany has found itself in the unusual position of becoming the major laggard in Europe’s stuttering economic engine.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 11 Apr. 2024
Even pricey technology stocks — the primary profit engine in the previous quarter — are again expected to be supported by solid results.
—Sagarika Jaisinghani, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
Questions about anti-icing equipment on the Max engines would have required Boeing to get a waiver from the FAA to get the Max 10 and a smaller Max 7 model certified.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
Purdue had a working railroad engine in its locomotive laboratory.
—NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
Earlier this month, the State Department authorized the transfer of 25 F-35A fighter jets and engines worth roughly $2.5 billion, U.S. officials said.
—John Hudson The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 31 Mar. 2024
Winter said the lack of fishing income combined with the state’s tightening air-quality standards for engine exhaust could drive him out of business.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2024
Verb
It’s powered by a Ukrainian Al-25T turbofan by Motor Sich, and will supposedly be followed in development by two supersonic B and C models (the latter twin-engined), which will make use of an afterburning Al-322 engine.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 30 Mar. 2023
So much has changed over the past decade or so, from the size and shape of the cars to engine technology and the use of smaller sensors.
—Joel Shapiro, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2023
Is there any benefit to directing the executive who oversees engine procurement to procure electricity as well?
—Marc Levinson, WSJ, 28 July 2022
Vehicle telematics works by simply installing a device with a SIM card that allows remotely acquiring vehicle information like location, speed, tire pressure, and engine idle in real-time, faster and more accurately than ever before.
—Ekim Saribardak, Forbes, 12 Nov. 2021
Every decision during a race, from timing a pit stop and choosing the tires to engine settings and brake balance, is grounded in granular data.
—Luc Hennekens, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2021
From crying babies to engine turbines, the earbuds provided smooth listening and drowned out all distractions.
—Nina Huang, EW.com, 23 Aug. 2021
Boeing and Airbus have often timed all-new aircraft to engine technology that provides a step-change in efficiency, such as the GEnx turbofans that made Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner twin-aisle greener and quieter than its predecessors.
—BostonGlobe.com, 14 June 2021
Changes to the truck, from chassis to body to engine to interior, reflect consumer needs, requests and complaints.
—Tribune News Service, cleveland, 2 Jan. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'engine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Engine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/engine. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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