engaging 1 of 2

Definition of engagingnext
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engaging

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verb

present participle of engage
1
2
as in facing
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 committing
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 hiring
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 engaging
Adjective
Zachary James returns as both Amenhotep III, Akhnaten’s father, and the engaging narrator who occasionally threatens to get carried away. Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026 Regular magic devotees such as myself will have seen all of his tricks before, in the raw sense, but his show is highly engaging nonetheless because of his ability to live in the moment and react in a live way to what is going on in the room. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
This concept was prevalent at this year's flower show, with many designers incorporating water features into their displays, from a simple dripping fountain to more formal pools, engaging visitors' auditory senses. Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 9 Mar. 2026 Madison spent much of his life engaging these important issues. Corey D. B. Walker, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for engaging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for engaging
Adjective
  • His patience as a runner is the most appealing characteristic, a style that could finally marry the solid blocking metrics with results.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Public-private partnerships are increasingly appealing to investors.
    Belinda G. Schwartz, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The Indigenous Māori people once believed the boulders were gourds that washed ashore from an ancient canoe wreck, but the science behind it is just as interesting as the legend.
    Madeline Bilis, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
  • Senate Minority Leader Cleave Simpson, an Alamosa Republican, said the vaccine bill was interesting enough to warrant consideration.
    Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • There’s familiarity there, but there’s also intriguing talent with Thompson.
    SportsDay Staff, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
  • The likes of Xabi Alonso, Enzo Maresca and Roberto De Zerbi are intriguing new options, but none offer the combination of experience, tactical flexibility and past silverware than Tuchel, a manager who brings solidity in and out of possession.
    Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Two of the four suspects facing murder charges in the 2021 Northwest Miami-Dade club shooting that killed three people and injured 20 others won’t face the death penalty.
    Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
  • An 11-year-old boy has been taken into custody and is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of his 5-year-old brother in Centennial, Colorado, investigators announced Wednesday.
    Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Texas built its double-digit lead despite committing six turnovers and getting just four points from all-conference honorees Madison Booker and Rori Harmon.
    Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Still, abandoning my life in New York City and committing to the incalculable unknowns of being the resident baker at the South Pole was immoderate, even for me.
    Cree LeFavour, New Yorker, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Those lackluster results have come despite employing both Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, two of the best players of their generation.
    Matt Moret, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
  • And autonomous drones are on the frontlines in the Russia-Ukraine war, with both Russia and Ukraine employing some variation of autonomous technology.
    Jake Angelo, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Mass layoffs in the tech industry started in 2022, after a hiring surge during the pandemic, when demand for online services increased as people were stuck at home.
    Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The conditions that apparently make reskilling cheaper than hiring at Standard Chartered may not be replicable at scale across industries.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • That’s a lot of folks — none of whom are particularly well known or hugely charismatic — taking small slices of the pie.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Enrigue is an erudite, charismatic raconteur—the sort who will tell you the most abject story with a wink—and his novel distills a byzantine swirl of historical events through the lives of a handful of very colorful characters.
    Carolina A. Miranda, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Engaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/engaging. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.

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