engine

noun

ˈen-jən How to pronounce engine (audio)
Definition of enginenext
as in machine
a device that changes energy into mechanical motion a car with a 200-horsepower engine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of engine The smaller engine also draws on engineering experience from Frenzy 8. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2026 With much of the credit going to engine immobilizers, car theft rates fell 80% between 1990 and 2020, according to Security Journal. — Alison J. Stein, HubSpot, 29 Oct. 2026 The pirates, arriving in two small boats, quickly seized control and stopped the engine. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for engine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for engine
  1. machine
  2. motor
Noun
  • The gym is a beautiful, modern space with plenty of machines, exercise balls, and room to stretch.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Normal gym etiquette is to refrain from taking up time on machines when the place is busy.
    — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of machine
Noun
  • Apeiron will fire up its onboard rocket motor, which will carry the six-passenger, two-pilot vehicle to suborbital space.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Since the engine and motor work in series, this is known as a series hybrid.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of motor

Browse Nearby Words

engenders
engine
engineer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Engine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/engine. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Pyrrhic

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All