Engage: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when you want to describe actively capturing someone's attention or making an effort to involve someone in an activity.

• The speaker managed to engage the audience with his compelling story.
• The teacher engaged the students with an interactive lesson.

Best used when describing the act of including someone in an activity, process, or situation, often implying active participation.

• Parents should involve their kids in household chores.
• The project manager involved the team in decision making.

Use when referring to taking part in an activity or event, often as part of a group. It suggests formal or organized involvement.

• Students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities.
• She decided to participate in the charity run.

Prefer this term when you want to describe drawing someone's interest or attention naturally, often used in marketing and social situations.

• The new café attracted a lot of customers with its cozy ambiance.
• The job fair attracted many job seekers.

Choose this word to describe filling someone's time or keeping them busy, often with a task or activity. Can have a slightly negative connotation if it implies overloading someone.

• Puzzles can occupy children for hours.
• The new assignment completely occupied my weekend.

Used when you want to capture someone's attention or interest, often deeply or thoughtfully.

• The speaker managed to engage the audience with his compelling story
• The teacher engaged the students in a lively discussion

Best used when you want to indicate including someone in an activity or situation, making them a part of it.

• Parents should involve their children in household chores
• The project involves multiple departments working together

Appropriate when talking about actively taking part in an event or activity.

• Everyone is encouraged to participate in the company's annual sports day
• Only a few students participated in the debate

Ideal when you want to describe the act of drawing someone's attention or interest, typically used in a general or commercial context.

• The new restaurant managed to attract a lot of customers
• Bright colors on the cover attract readers' attention

Used when you mean to fill up someone's time or mind with an activity or thoughts. It can have a neutral or slightly negative connotation if it implies distraction.

• The book occupied her thoughts for days
• The children were occupied with their games all afternoon

Use when initiating participation or involvement in an activity or conversation. It can often imply a deeper level of interest or effort to attract attention.

• The teacher tried to engage the students by using interactive activities.
• They engaged in a lively debate about the future of technology.

Ideal for describing the process of establishing or strengthening a relationship, bond, or link with someone or something. It often carries emotional or personal undertones.

• She was able to connect with the audience through her heartfelt speech.
• They connected on a deep level, sharing many common interests.

Use when referring to actions or communications between people or things that affect each other. It can imply a more mutual or reciprocal exchange.

• The new software allows users to interact with the system more efficiently.
• Children need to interact with their peers to develop social skills.

Best when referring to the act of sharing or exchanging information, thoughts, or feelings. It typically relates to clarity and the process of conveying messages.

• They communicate via email every day.
• Effective leaders communicate their vision to their team clearly.