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1. Having one's attention, mind or energy occupied
   "deeply engaged in conversation"
   - occupied
    
2. Involved in military hostilities
   "the desperately engaged ships continued the fight"
    
3. Reserved in advance
   - booked, set-aside
    
4. (of facilities such as telephones or lavatories) unavailable for use by anyone else or indicating unavailability
   "receptionists' telephones are always engaged"
   - busy, in use
    
5. (used of toothed parts or gears) interlocked and interacting
   "the gears are engaged"
   - meshed, intermeshed
    
6. Having services contracted for
   "the carpenter engaged (or employed) for the job is sick"
    
7. Built against or attached to a wall
   "engaged columns"
    
8. Pledged to be married
   "the engaged couple"
   - bespoken, betrothed

1. Carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in
   "They engaged in a discussion"
   - prosecute, pursue
    
2. Consume all of one's attention or time
   "Her interest in butterflies engages her completely"
   - absorb, engross, occupy
    
3. Start in a job or pay to do a particular piece of work
   "They engaged two new secretaries in the department"
   - hire, employ
    
4. Ask to represent; of legal counsel
    
5. Give to in marriage
   - betroth, affiance, plight
    
6. Get caught
   "make sure the gear is engaged"
    
7. Carry on (wars, battles, or campaigns)
   "Napoleon and Hitler engaged war against all of Europe"
   - wage
    
8. Hire for work or assistance
   "engage aid, help, services, or support"
   - enlist
    
9. Engage for service under a term of contract
   "Let's engage a car"
   - lease, rent, hire, charter, take
    
10. Keep engaged
    "engaged the gears"
    - mesh, lock, operate
     
11. (military) start armed combat with

See also: attached, busy, committed, connected, employed, engagement, geared, involved, occupied, on hold, reserved

Type of: acquire, act, contend, displace, fight, get, interest, move, procure, secure, struggle, touch, vow

Antonym: disengage

Encyclopedia: Engage