You must employ your capital well.
Source: tatoeba (16071)
Employ
/ɪmˈplɔɪ/
Synonyms for "employ" (300 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (60)
Verb(18 words)
Noun(17 words)
academic discipline approachamount of physical forceapplied force evenlyapplied linguistic approachapplied skill developmentapply natural system approachapply scientific methodapply skillapplyingapproach the topicapproach to learningavailsborrowed word formborrowingbrandishingbusyingcampaign outreach materials
active useactivitiesactivityaddaffairaffairsapplianceapplicationapplyassumeattend to businessattendanceavailbagbespeakbestowbookbriefbusinessbusy
Show 1 more word
carry on
Adjective(4 words)
american history textbook approachapplied mechanicsapplied workborrowed books
Strong matches (90)
Noun(25 words)
coding systemcomposition usecontent area l1 usecopehancultural development process approachelaphureemploymentengaged stateengaging performanceenvironmental system approach frameworkexercise habitsexercisingexploitingexploitsexpression mediumharnessharnessesharnessinghireshiring
commercecommissionconcernconcernmentconductconsecrate toconsumeconsumptioncontract forconvertdedicate todevotedodo withdrawembraceemploymentengageengage inengross
Verb(19 words)
Adjective(3 words)
communal decision making modelenvironmental system approachfine powder use
Related words (150)
Noun(44 words)
learning strategyleveragingmanmaterial usemodel organisms approachmore appliedpiggybackspracticesprivate sector job marketproblem solving techniqueproject based curriculumproject based methodproject organization approachrecruitsresortresortingresortsretainingservice learning pedagogysign-on
Show 24 more words
staffstaffingstaffsstudy methodsystems thinking classroomtappingteaching pond modeltempuse fixed groupinguse ingeniouslyuse remoteuse with gearusesuses of manufactured materialusingusoutilize skillutilize techniquewater cycle diagramwhole organism approachwhole organism studywieldingword form grammarworking memory capacity
Verb(31 words)
linelookoutmake use ofmanagemanipulatemattermind the storeministrationministrymisusemonopolizeobtainoccupationoccupyoperatepasspass the timepeonageplayply
Show 52 more words
practicepreengageprocureprosecutepursueput forthput input onput outrecruitreserveretainrough usagesecureserfdomserviceservitiumservitorshipservitudesignsign onsign upsign up forslaveryspecialize inspendspend the timetackletaketake into employmenttake ontake totake uptendancethingtouchturnundertakeundertakingusageuseuse upusing uputilizewagewhilewhile awaywieldwileworkwork atwrong use
Adjective(3 words)
natural system approachroman brandingsteady focus technique
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: apply, use, utilize, engage, hire.
- Sentence evidence is available for employ, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "employ".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "employ"
Keep "employ" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "employ" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "employ", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "employ" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
9 entriesMore specific
11 entriesapprenticeshipefficient useformulafull time employmentinternshipmethodpart time employmentpart time hireproper userecruitmenttechnique
Collocations
12 entriesefficient employemploy a methodemploy a strategyemploy evidenceemploy personnelemploy resourcesemploy toolsin the employin the employ ofproper employsound employwise employ
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
7 entriessimilar
3 entriesSample sentences
31 total sentences available.
We will employ a man who can speak English.
Source: tatoeba (26168)
The company wants to employ 20 people.
Source: tatoeba (49043)
The company has decided to employ two new secretaries.
Source: tatoeba (49110)
Showing 4 of 31 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "employ"?
Closest matches include apply, use, utilize, engage, hire.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "employ"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.