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

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 [archaic], affiance [literary], plight [archaic]
    
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, geared, involved, occupied, on hold, reserved

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

Antonym: disengage

Encyclopedia: Engaged