engages

VERB

hire for job, use

Synonyms

STRONGEST

employ enlist

STRONG

appoint bespeak book charter commission contract enroll ink lease place prearrange rent reserve retain secure

WEAK

bring on board come on board put on sign on sign up take on truck with

Antonyms

STRONGEST

shun

STRONG

cancel dismiss fire free give let go lose reject spend

WEAK

banish break off break up decline defuse discharge disconnect eject expel give up oust refuse release surrender yield

VERB

occupy oneself; engross

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arrest catch employ fascinate immerse interest involve join participate preoccupy undertake

STRONG

absorb allure bewitch busy captivate charm draw enamor enchant enthrall grip imbue monopolize partake practice soak tackle

WEAK

embark on enter into give a try give a whirl go for broke go in for go out for have a fling at have a go at have a shot at keep busy pitch in preengage set about take part tie up try on for size

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bore disenchant disinterest free ignore let go release

STRONG

disgust forget neglect offend repel repulse turn off

WEAK

banish break off break up cancel decline defuse discharge disconnect dismiss eject expel fire give up oust refuse reject shun surrender yield

VERB

promise to marry

Synonyms

STRONGEST

catch commit undertake

STRONG

affiance agree betroth bind contract covenant guarantee hook obligate oblige pass pledge tie vouch vow

WEAK

give one's word troth turn on

Antonyms

STRONG

break deny disagree disavow fail fall behind let off loose loosen lose refuse release unfasten untie

WEAK

banish break off break up cancel decline defuse discharge disconnect dismiss eject expel fire give up let go oust reject shun surrender yield

VERB

start a fight; attack

Synonyms

STRONGEST

face meet

STRONG

assail assault combat encounter launch strike

WEAK

do battle with fall on give battle to join battle with take on

Antonyms

STRONG

retreat surrender

WEAK

banish break off break up cancel decline defuse discharge disconnect dismiss eject expel fire give up let go oust refuse reject release shun yield

VERB

interconnect; bring into operation

Synonyms

STRONGEST

join lock

STRONG

activate apply attach dovetail energize fasten interact interlace interlock mesh

WEAK

get going intermesh interplay switch on

Antonyms

STRONG

detach disconnect disunite unfasten unlink

WEAK

banish break off break up cancel decline defuse discharge dismiss eject expel fire give up let go oust refuse reject release shun surrender yield

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Until our country engages in that dialogue, nothing will change.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 29, 2026

The federal task force typically briefs Congress on upcoming threats and engages with state and local leaders to game out scenarios ranging from ransomware to critical infrastructure attacks on Election Day.

From Salon • May 21, 2026

The report said the US had also made clear it would only cease hostilities when Tehran engages in formal peace negotiations.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

It’s work that engages your body when so much of our work has merely engaged our minds.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

For the CEO with the bad hamburger meat, Sandman engages in “outrage reduction”; for the environmentalists, it’s “outrage increase.”

From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt