engaged 1 of 2

adjective

in-ˈgājd How to pronounce engaged (audio)
Definition of engagednext
1
as in committed
pledged in marriage the engaged couple make a charming pair

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in employed
involved in often constant activity I'm engaged right now, so call back some other time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

engaged

2 of 2

verb

past tense of engage
1
as in interested
to hold the attention of the challenging jigsaw puzzle engaged us all evening

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in faced
to enter into contest or conflict with the daring young captain was eager to engage the enemy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pledged
to obligate by prior agreement we can't go to the dance because we're already engaged to attend a piano recital

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in hired
to provide with a paying job the wealthy couple are looking to engage a handyman to take care of the estate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in rented
to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum my sister and her boyfriend have engaged a chauffeured limousine for the prom

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 engaged
Adjective
Season four, which premieres in November, follows the engaged couple as Peggy attempts to ingratiate herself with the Kirklands but not lose herself in the process. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026 In a separate experiment that was part of the same study, 64 percent of participants felt more engaged with an AI that mirrored their wider Big Five personality profile than one designed to display the opposite profile. — Paul Jones, Scientific American, 7 Sep. 2026
Verb
But her older sister Cassandra was engaged and would have married if her fiancé hadn’t died of illness. — Eva Blanco Medina, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2026 Thurston announced her breast cancer diagnosis just months after getting engaged to comedian Jeff Arcuri. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for engaged
Recent Examples of Synonyms for engaged
  1. committed
  2. diligent
  3. interested
  4. faced
  5. employed
  6. hired
  7. busy
  8. occupied
Adjective
  • The department remains committed to co-operating with all jurisdictions pursuing potential crimes.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
  • But when the company’s business in an actual communist country came under pressure, its CEO reminded everyone that Nike had been investing there for more than 40 years, operated thousands of stores and remained committed to the Chinese market.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of committed
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, overtime can lead to fatigue for workers who are spending 10 to 12 hours on their feet, carrying heavy objects while also needing to remain diligent about their own safety.
    — Janay Kingsberry, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Indeed, by the third act, a diligent archival documentary becomes humanist lightning in a bottle, illuminating the similarities between the ’90s and now.
    — Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of diligent
Verb
  • This question interested me as a computational biophysicist who studies how living systems process information and adapt to changing environments.
    — Shiladitya Banerjee, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Your three films to date reveal you as a filmmaker interested in structure.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of interested
Verb
  • The brothers previously faced rape and human trafficking charges in Britain in connection to three alleged victims, CPS said.
    — Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Eagle Fire is also pursuing a separate partnership with the city for a training facility, but the project has faced challenges at City Hall.
    — Noah Daly, Idaho Statesman, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of faced
Verb
  • Hermès has long employed superior designers, including, in recent decades, Martin Margiela, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Christophe Lemaire.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • This is the stuff that keeps my, and many, many others employed.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of employed
Verb
  • Lupoi, a first-time head coach, also hired two first-time coordinators.
    — The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Zeller sets this up ably by incorporating the sledgehammer blows of the builder hired by Toby into percussive passages of Volker Bertelmann’s ominous score.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of hired
Adjective
  • Alex Steen’s first summer in the big chair was busy, but everything mostly made sense.
    — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Amenities and experiences Harmon Guest House smartly devotes most of its real estate to guest rooms, allowing for maximum comfort in a busy area.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of busy
Verb
  • Tom Bonser, who was chief financial officer, left in January and has since taken on a new position at Fulham — although his role is now filled by Tom Rawcliffe, who previously occupied similar jobs at AFC Wimbledon and Bristol City.
    — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Israel argues that the territory is disputed rather than occupied, and asserts that Jews have a historical right to the land.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of occupied

Browse Nearby Words

engage
engaged
engaged (in)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Engaged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/engaged. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shofar

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

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

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
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
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All