v. t. 1. To put under pledge; to pledge; to place under obligations to do or forbear doing something, as by a pledge, oath, or promise; to bind by contract or promise.
2. To gain for service; to bring in as associate or aid; to enlist; as, to engage friends to aid in a cause; to engage men for service.
3. To gain over; to win and attach; to attract and hold; to draw.
Good nature engages everybody to him.
4. To employ the attention and efforts of; to occupy; to engross; to draw on.
Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage.
Taking upon himself the difficult task of engaging him in conversation.
5. To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to conflict.
A favorable opportunity of engaging the enemy.
6. (Mach.) To come into gear with; as, the teeth of one cogwheel engage those of another, or one part of a clutch engages the other part.
v. i. 1. To promise or pledge one's self; to enter into an obligation; to become bound; to warrant.
How proper the remedy for the malady, I engage not.
2. To embark in a business; to take a part; to employ or involve one's self; to devote attention and effort; to enlist; as, to engage in controversy.
3. To enter into conflict; to join battle; as, the armies engaged in a general battle.
4. (Mach.) To be in gear, as two cogwheels working together.
Verb 1. engage - carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in; "She pursued many activities"; "They engaged in a discussion"
2. engage - engage or engross wholly; "Her interest in butterflies absorbs her completely"
3. engage - engage or hire for work; "They hired two new secretaries in the department"; "How many people has she employed?"
4. engage - ask to represent; of legal counsel; "I'm retaining a lawyer"
6. engage - get caught; "make sure the gear is engaged"
7. engage - as of wars, battles, or campaigns; "Napoleon and Hitler waged war against all of Europe"
9. engage - engage for service under a term of contract; "We took an apartment on a quiet street"; "Let's rent a car"; "Shall we take a guide in Rome?"
10. engage - keep engaged; "engaged the gears"
disengage, withdraw - release from something that holds fast, connects, or entangles; "I want to disengage myself from his influence"; "disengage the gears"