plural engagements
1
: an agreement to be married : the act of becoming engaged or the state of being engaged to be married
The couple recently announced their engagement.
She surprised everyone by breaking off her yearlong engagement.
—often used before another nounWe're invited to their engagement party.
an engagement ring
2
a
: a promise to meet or be present at a particular place and time
He was forced to decline due to a previous engagement. [=commitment, appointment]
We have a dinner engagement this weekend.
b
: a job as a performer
She's been offered several speaking engagements.
3
: the act or state of being involved with something : involvement
his lifelong engagement with politics
a lack of emotional engagement
4
: a fight between military forces
a naval engagement
the rules of engagement
5
formal
: the act of hiring someone to do work or to perform a service
engagement of a lawyer
6
: the act or result of moving a mechanism or part of a machine so that it fits into another part
engagement of the gears/clutch
Cite this Entry
“Engagement.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/engagement. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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