ENGAGE

Definition of ENGAGE

ENGAGE Verb

Engage is a verb that means to participate, involve, or attract attention or interest. It can refer to a wide variety of actions that involve taking part in an activity, capturing someone’s attention, or initiating a connection with others.

To Participate or Involve: One of the primary meanings of engage is to take part in something or become involved. For example, “He was eager to engage in the discussion,” means that he was willing and ready to participate actively in the conversation or activity. In this sense, it is often used when describing actions that require involvement or effort.

To Attract Attention or Interest: Engage can also mean to capture or hold someone’s attention or interest. For instance, “The speaker’s presentation managed to engage the entire audience,” suggests that the speaker was able to maintain the interest of the listeners throughout the talk. This usage is common in both personal and professional contexts, where keeping someone’s focus is crucial.

To Initiate or Commit: In some cases, engage refers to initiating or committing to something. For example, “The gears engaged smoothly when the machine started,” describes the process of components locking or connecting to function properly. Similarly, “They decided to engage in business negotiations,” refers to the formal beginning of discussions or actions.

Science and Discovery: In scientific contexts, engage can be used when discussing active involvement in research or experiments. For instance, “Scientists often engage in long-term studies to observe environmental changes,” indicates participation in an extended effort to gather and analyze data.

Criminal and Detective Work: In law enforcement, engage is often used when referring to police officers or detectives initiating contact with suspects or beginning an investigation. For example, “The officer decided to engage the suspect in conversation to gain more information,” suggests the act of making a deliberate connection to gather insights.

Personal or Emotional Contexts: On a more personal level, engage can describe someone connecting emotionally or intellectually with others. For instance, “She found it difficult to engage emotionally after the traumatic experience,” indicates a struggle to involve herself on an emotional level with others or situations.

Contrast with Disengage: Engage is often contrasted with disengage, which means to withdraw or separate from an activity, commitment, or connection. While engage implies involvement and interaction, disengage suggests pulling back or detaching.

Importance in Communication and Relationships: Effective communication and strong relationships often require people to actively engage with one another. For instance, “To build trust, it’s important to engage in open and honest conversations,” reflects the role of active participation in fostering deeper connections.

Cultural and Contextual Variations: Depending on the context, engage can take on different meanings. In some professional environments, engaging may refer to business deals or meetings, while in artistic or creative fields, it may be about capturing someone’s imagination or creativity.

In conclusion, engage is a versatile verb that refers to participating, involving, attracting attention, or initiating actions. It is used in various contexts—from personal relationships and communication to professional tasks and scientific research. Engage contrasts with disengage, and its broad application highlights the importance of active involvement, whether in activities, interactions, or commitments.

WIDOW

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Examples of ENGAGE in a sentence

• The teacher tried to engage her students with interactive activities to make the lesson more interesting.
• The company aims to engage customers through personalized marketing and targeted promotions.
• The therapist encouraged the patient to engage in regular exercise to improve their overall well-being.
• During the conference, the keynote speaker will engage with the audience through a Q&A session.
• The novel’s plot was designed to engage readers from the very first page.
• The team was able to engage in productive discussions due to their mutual respect and open communication.
• The project manager sought to engage all stakeholders to ensure their input was considered in the planning process.
• The campaign was successful in engaging the community and raising awareness about the environmental issue.

Origin of ENGAGE

The word engage has its origins in Latin, passing through Old French before entering English, and it relates to the act of involving or committing to something.

• Latin:
  • In- (into) + Gage (pledge)
  • The Latin word gage or jocus (later form gage from Old French) referred to a pledge or security. The Latin prefix in- combined with gage implied placing into a commitment or obligation.
• Old French:
  • Engager (to pledge, bind)
  • In Old French, engager adopted the sense of pledging or binding oneself to something, reflecting the Latin roots related to commitment or obligation.
• Middle English:
  • Engage (to pledge, involve)
  • By Middle English, engage was used to describe the act of pledging or committing oneself, expanding to include involvement or participation in something.
• Modern English:
  • Engage (to involve, commit, participate)
  • In Modern English, engage refers to the act of involving, committing, or participating in something, reflecting its historical roots in Latin and Old French.

The term engage has retained its core meaning of involving or committing from its Latin origins in gage, through Old French, to its current use in English, where it describes the act of committing oneself or participating in an activity or responsibility.

VICTIM

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