to engage

Examples

• All

• The operative question is: how do foreign armies engage their enemy, not how should they engage him.

  Academic text (1999)

• The soldiers were ordered to engage the enemy forces in the valley.

• Will those at the missile silos decide to engage and fire?

  Lex Fridman

• And they're trying to engage in some sort of counter response.

• In the Korean War, with 5,720,000 personnel engaged, only 77 men were so honored.

  The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

• How did Hizbullah legitimize its authority to engage in a conflict outside Lebanese borders?

  Academic text (2017)

• After careful consideration, the command was given to engage in the battle against the invading army.

• The general announced plans to engage with hostile forces in the region at dawn.

Synonyms

F

to fight

vsto engage

∞ 1.0

To take part in a physical or verbal struggle against someone

focuses on starting or being involved rather than the struggle type

A

to attack

vsto engage

∞ 1.3

To use force to hurt people or damage things

is more general, allowing start or participation without necessarily striking

G

to go to war

vsto engage

236 3.4

To start fighting in a war between countries or groups

may also mean taking part or starting smaller conflicts not only major ones

W

to wage

vsto engage

162 5.1

To carry on a war or campaign

can mean taking part or beginning rather than ongoing operations

C

to combat

vsto engage

137 4.1

To fight something harmful like a disease or unfair treatment

emphasizes taking part or starting conflicts not only stopping harm

J

to join battle

vsto engage

7 7.3

To take part in a fight or argument

can mean starting the clash or simply taking part

T

to take the offensive

vsto engage

5 6.4

Begin attacking or acting aggressively to gain an advantage

is broader, including taking part or starting disputes without force

Antonyms

R

retreat

80 4.4

A move back from a place to escape danger

Idioms

E

to engage your brain

• Informal

1 4.2

Think carefully before you speak or act

Phrasal Verbs

E

to engage in banter

• Informal

1 4.8

Take part in friendly playful talk that makes jokes and teases

E

to engage their fans

1 3.5

To talk to and share things with fans to keep them interested

How Combative

to war

18 5.9

battle

∞ 1.4

to fight

∞ 1.0

to engage

107 6.1

to skirmish

2 7.6

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology