engages

Definition of engagesnext
present tense third-person singular of engage
1
2
as in faces
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 commits
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
5
as in hires
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 engages So Frances, our aforementioned Chief Director of Drama, engages Wiggins, the butler, to spy on them. Alice Burton, Vulture, 20 Apr. 2026 This movement engages the quad concentrically, which means the muscles contract while shortening, Mann said. Julia Ries Wexler, Health, 15 Apr. 2026 Interactive play, even on a screen, engages kids differently than passive viewing. Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2026 Other parents may question whether the teacher is doing enough to present the material in a way that engages the students. Amanda Morin, Parents, 6 Apr. 2026 Indoor cameras come equipped with a mechanical privacy shutter, which audibly engages and physically prevents streaming when not in use. Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2026 The other is their interests — what excites and engages them. Jon Poorman, Houston Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026 Humor, on the other hand, always engages people. Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 3 Apr. 2026 At the same time, the exhibition engages broader cultural and historical contexts. Olga Garcia-Mayoral, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for engages
Verb
  • The University of Chicago economist economist occupies an unusual space in being one of the leading researchers on AI’s labor market impact, but also one of its most avid adopters.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 19 Apr. 2026
  • The program occupies a decommissioned two-story-tall firehouse at the corner of West 24th and South Whipple streets.
    Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Bristy has not been found as of Saturday, but the suspect faces two murder counts.
    Robert McGreevy , Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the investigative outlet Inkyfada faces a court hearing May 11 as authorities pursue the dissolution of Al Khatt, the association that publishes it.
    Ghaya ben Mbarek, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • If a team commits two straight defensive penalties in overtime, however, the conversion is awarded to the offense.
    Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Apr. 2026
  • On corners and wide deliveries, Perri rarely commits early.
    Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Spirit Airlines is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and employs about 15,000 people.
    CBS News, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Haiti’s garment sector says the program, which employs thousands of workers in Port-au-Prince and northern Haiti, has been a lifeline for the country and has been pushing for a multiyear program.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • To wriggle out of Joseph’s grasp, Michael hires a brash young lawyer, John Branca, played by Miles Teller, who lends the coolly confident character a delightfully rough edge.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Based on a script by Justin Varava that made the 2024 Black List, Turpentine follows a deadbeat son who hires friends to rob his own parents to pay off a bookie, with disastrous results.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The film immerses us in the boy’s world, following his journey from age 8 to 18.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Originally released in 2010, the documentary immerses the viewer in France’s Chauvet Cave, a natural wonder containing drawings tens of thousands of years old.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • As the Moon meets Jupiter in your sign, your presence carries weight and people respond to your tone.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Swimwear is truly where function meets style, which is why designers love to play with new silhouettes and aesthetics.
    Rosie Jarman, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Following an unsuccessful suicide attempt, Creasy’s best friend Paul Rayburn (Bobby Cannavale) recruits him to join him in Brazil and help lead an anti-terrorist operation.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Marine recruits jog at Parris Island on Thursday.
    Betsy Badell, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Engages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/engages. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on engages

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