Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

employ

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of employ

the state of being provided with a paying job

  • while youʼre under our employ, you canʼt do outside work for our competitors
Synonyms of employ

employment, engagement, hire
Words Related to employ

appointment, assignment, conscription, enlistment, recruitment

incumbency, tenure

occupation, place, position, post, situation, work
Near Antonyms of employ

boot, discharge, dismissal, firing, removal, sack, severance

demotion, suspension

furlough, layoff, leave, liberty, retirement
Antonyms of employ

joblessness, nonemployment, unemployment

employ

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of employ

1 to provide with a paying job

  • a new factory that will employ 500 people
Synonyms of employ

assume, engage, fee [chiefly Scottish], hire, lay on [chiefly British], pay, place, recruit, retain, sign (up or on), take on
Words Related to employ

reemploy, reengage, rehire

apprentice, contract, job, partner, subcontract

enlist

advance, promote, upgrade

keep (on)

headhunt, scout
Near Antonyms of employ

furlough, lay off, lock out
Antonyms of employ

ax (or axe), can, discharge, dismiss, fire, sack

2 to put into action or service

  • looking for a job in which she can employ her considerable writing skills
Synonyms of employ

apply, exercise, exploit, harness, operate, use, utilize
Words Related to employ

handle, manipulate, wield

direct, run, work

cannibalize, recycle, reuse
Phrases Synonymous with employ

bring to bear, draw on (or upon), make use of
Near Antonyms of employ

ignore, neglect

misapply, misuse

Synonym Discussion of employ

use, employ, utilize mean to put into service especially to attain an end. use implies availing oneself of something as a means or instrument to an end.
    • willing to use any means to achieve her ends
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
utilize may suggest the discovery of a new, profitable, or practical use for something.
    • an old wooden bucket utilized as a planter

Learn More about employ

  1. See words that rhyme with employ Dictionary: Definition of employ Spanish Central: Translation of employ Nglish: Translation of employ for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of employ for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up employ? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games