If you engage in espionage for a foreign power, you are selling your country down the river.
Source: tatoeba (21872)
Engage
/ɪnˈɡeɪd͡ʒ/
Synonyms for "engage" (440 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (88)
Verb(21 words)
employhireabsorbactivateactuateaffianceappealedapply effortattractattractedbetakebetookbetrothbetrothsbusiedbusiescaptivatecaptivatescaptivatingcharter
Show 1 more word
Adjective(4 words)
Noun(20 words)
activatinganimate objectanimate organismanimate the audienceapproach of nightasamaatenattractingbattlingbetrothedbetrothingbrunchbusyingcatchingclutchclutchingcommissioncommission a studycommissioningcommissions
Strong matches (132)
commitcompactconcerncontractcontract an engagementcontract forcooperatecovenantdecidedeterminedevotedisposedivertdo a dealdo battledovetaildrawdraw inembark onembarrass
Show 41 more words
employenchantencounterengage inengage in battleengage the attentionengage the mindengage the thoughtsengrossengross the mindengross the thoughtsenlistenmeshentangleenter intoenthrallessayexercisefacefascinatefetchfightgetget to dogive battlego bail forgrabgrapple withgripguaranteehave an understandinghireholdhold spellboundhold the interesthypnotizeimbueimmerseimplicateinclineindenture
Noun(31 words)
competingconnect emotionallycosplaycrank up rotationcrankingcultivate team spiritdaloemploy methodemployesemployingenergizes studentsevents impacting learningextrovertsfirefightfirefightingfirefightsflip switchgame playgrabbinggrabs
Verb(35 words)
Adjective(5 words)
Related words (220)
Noun(56 words)
indenturinginterest studentsinterest yieldinterestsinterfaceinterlocksintriguejobsjoined activitieslighting powerlockingmeshesmeshingmeshing couplingmesmerizingmore bodily networkedmost active listeningmotivate learnersnetwork of interactionsnetworking site
Show 36 more words
networksoccupy a caveoutreachesoutreachingpartakingpinionpiqueplightingpolitics practiceproblem solving gamespromisespush a switchpushing leverrallyingrecruitsred guard activitiesretainingrhetorical appealrumpusessharing cultureskirmishskirmishesskirmishingsocializing opportunitiessortiestartswitchestake parttakestemptransactingtransfixeswarswheel turn mechanismwhirringyouth program activities
induceinfluenceinteractinterchangeinterestinterest ininterlaceinterlockintermeshinterplayintertwineinterweaveinterworkinviteinvolveinvolve the interestjoin battlejoin battle withjoin issuelead
Show 75 more words
lift a fingerlineluremake a dealmake an attemptmake an effortmeetmeshmesmerizemind the storemonopolizemortiseobligateobsessoccupyoccupy the attentionofferorderpartake inparticipate inpasspass the timeplaypledgeplightpreengagepreoccupyprepossessprocurepromisepromptpublish the bannsput onrecruitrentreserveretainsecureshake hands onsignsign onsign upsign up forsoakspellbindspendspend the timestipulatestrikesuck insuck intosummonswaytake into employmenttake ontake part intake the vowstake uptangletantalizeteasetempttickletietie uptitillatetrothtrytry conclusionsundertakeventureventure onventure uponwarwhet the appetite
Verb(56 words)
interactedinteracted outcomesinteractinginteractsinterestinterfacedintriguedinvolveinvolvesinvolvingjoinjoin a clubleaselivenslockmagnetisedmeshmobilizemobilizedmotivate
Show 36 more words
occupyoperateoutreachedpartakepartakenpartakesparticipateparticipate in decision makingparticipatespartookpiquedplightpolitickpopularize sciencepreoccupiespress a leverproposeprosecutepursuepursue metalworkpursuesrentretainedretainsrivettingscintillatessocializestimulatetaketempedtuggedturn the wheelswadedwagewagedwake up the class
Adjective(12 words)
interestedinterestinginvigorating classinvolvedlateral thinking puzzlemutual aid networkpolitical urgingpublic policy processrapid change technologyrollickingsocial approachstimulating
Preposition(1 words)
of interest
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: employ, hire, absorb, absorb, absorb the attention.
- Sentence evidence is available for engage, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, 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 "engage".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "engage"
Keep "engage" 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 "engage" 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 "engage", 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 "engage" 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
21 entriesShowing 16 of 21 words.
More specific
10 entriesaudience attentionclass discussionconsultingcontract workcuriositygroup projectlab exercisereader engagementstudent interesttutoring
Collocations
5 entriesclassroom engagementengagement strategiesengaging activityengaging lessonstudent engagement
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
6 entriesAntonyms
1 entriesSample sentences
23 total sentences available.
I have no time to engage in gossip.
Source: tatoeba (26633)
Others engage in volunteer work.
Source: tatoeba (33124)
I have no time to engage in political activity.
Source: tatoeba (249936)
Showing 4 of 23 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "engage"?
Closest matches include employ, hire, absorb, absorb, absorb the attention.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "engage"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.