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employ

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb employ contrast with its synonyms?

The words use and utilize are common synonyms of employ. While all three words mean "to put into service especially to attain an end," employ suggests the use of a person or thing that is available but idle, inactive, or disengaged.

looking for better ways to employ their skills

Where would use be a reasonable alternative to employ?

Although the words use and employ have much in common, use implies availing oneself of something as a means or instrument to an end.

willing to use any means to achieve her ends

When is it sensible to use utilize instead of employ?

While the synonyms utilize and employ are close in meaning, utilize may suggest the discovery of a new, profitable, or practical use for something.

an old wooden bucket utilized as a planter

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 employ
Verb
The leaves Tesla — the most valuable automaker on the planet, employing 125,000 worldwide — missing one thing every other major company has: a full-time boss focused on its future. Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 14 July 2025 In fact, a number of startups that employed the engineer praised his technical skills, even amid the backlash against him. Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 14 July 2025
Noun
Lowe’s employs about 300,000 people, mostly hourly. Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2025 Detailing his gofer duties today to the court, Kaplan is known to have left Combs’ employ after a year, in some part due to the violence he is said to have seen. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for employ
Recent Examples of Synonyms for employ
Verb
  • The organization’s board of directors voted to hire Bryan Griffin with an annual salary not to exceed $215,000.
    Skyler Swisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2025
  • Venables hired Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle to keep the connection with Mateer intact.
    Matt Byrne, Arkansas Online, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • This is when the teen uses social conflict to express frustration.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • The treatment had never been used on a species of raptor before, but Ammann took a leap and sent them an email.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 6 July 2025
Noun
  • From 1979 to 2019, employment in the education and health services sectors increased from 6.8 million people to 24.1 million people.
    Sheldon H. Jacobson, Chicago Tribune, 22 July 2025
  • Rashford’s £325,000 weekly wage after bonuses, plus employment costs, translates to an annual bill of £19.4m for United.
    David Ornstein, New York Times, 22 July 2025
Verb
  • Travers impresses New signing Mark Travers has been recruited with a simple brief: to compete with long-term No 1 Pickford.
    Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 21 July 2025
  • The Amateur Athletic Union, or AAU for short, originally aimed to help youth in getting recruited to colleges or receiving scholarships.
    Sami Khan, Mercury News, 20 July 2025
Verb
  • Of those, Porsche utilized numerous lightweighting measures in 1957 to develop a small number intended for motorsport.
    Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 14 July 2025
  • In venue news, Park City’s Yarrow Theatre will be utilized as well as Salt Lake Film Society’s Broadway Centre Cinemas and Rose Wagner Performing Arts Centre.
    Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • Third-party cybersecurity experts have been engaged, and the company asserted all systems and affected data have now been secured.
    Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025
  • Lerman proposed in November 2023 Corrigan announced that she and Lerman were engaged on Nov. 21, 2023, on Instagram.
    Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 26 July 2025
Verb
  • The formula was applied to the target amounts that were distributed in January.
    Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 25 July 2025
  • Any employee can apply for this benefit, making homeownership achievable for the entire staff.
    Alora Bopray, USA Today, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • Lunn promised to provide low-cost necessities—groceries, coal, and ice for the pre-electric era iceboxes—by starting city-run businesses to compete with private merchants who exploited their poor customers.
    Time, Time, 22 July 2025
  • Given that many forms of manufacturing are labor-intensive, any country where the cost of labor is lower than the cost in the U.S. can exploit such an opportunity.
    Sheldon H. Jacobson, Chicago Tribune, 22 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Employ.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/employ. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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