Engaged: meaning, definitions and examples

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engaged

 

[ ɪnˈɡeɪdʒd ]

Context #1 | Verb

relationship

Having formally agreed to marry or enter into a romantic relationship with someone.

Synonyms

betrothed, committed, pledged, promised.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
engaged

Describes being actively involved or occupied with an activity or conversation.

  • She was deeply engaged in the discussion
  • He remained engaged with his work all day
betrothed

A more formal or old-fashioned way of indicating someone is promised in marriage.

  • She is betrothed to a young noble
  • He introduced her as his betrothed
pledged

Indicates a formal promise or agreement, often in a serious or solemn context.

  • He pledged to donate a significant amount to charity
  • They pledged their loyalty to the cause
promised

Refers to a more general commitment or assurance to do something in the future.

  • She promised to call him later
  • He promised her a trip to Paris
committed

Refers to a strong emotional or physical bond, often not limited to romantic relationships.

  • They are committed to each other for life
  • He is committed to achieving his goals

Examples of usage

  • She got engaged to her high school sweetheart last night.
  • They have been engaged for two years now.
  • I am so happy to announce that we are engaged!
  • The couple decided to get engaged after dating for only six months.
  • He proposed to her and she happily said yes, becoming engaged.
Context #2 | Verb

busy

Busy or occupied with a particular activity or task.

Synonyms

busy, immersed, involved, occupied.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
engaged

Appropriate when someone is actively participating in an activity or conversation with a sense of commitment or involvement.

  • She was deeply engaged in the discussion about environmental policy.
  • He is engaged in planning next year's conference.
occupied

Indicates that someone is currently engaged in an activity that requires their attention, often implying unavailability for other tasks.

  • The conference room is currently occupied.
  • He is occupied with a project right now.
involved

Used when someone is taking part in an activity or event, especially when there are multiple people. It suggests active participation but not necessarily intense focus.

  • She is involved in several community projects.
  • They were involved in an important meeting.
busy

Used when someone has a lot of tasks or activities to do. It often implies that the person has little or no free time.

  • I can't talk right now; I'm busy with work.
  • She is always busy during the week.
immersed

Best used when someone is fully absorbed in an activity, often losing track of time or surroundings. It implies a deep level of focus.

  • He is completely immersed in his new book.
  • She gets so immersed in her painting that she forgets to eat.

Examples of usage

  • I am engaged in a very important project at work.
  • She was fully engaged in the conversation and didn't notice the time passing.
  • The students were engaged in a lively debate during class.
  • He was so engaged in his book that he didn't hear the phone ring.
  • The team is fully engaged in preparing for the upcoming competition.

Translations

Translations of the word "engaged" in other languages:

🇵🇹 noivo

🇮🇳 मंगेतर

🇩🇪 verlobt

🇮🇩 bertunangan

🇺🇦 заручений

🇵🇱 zaręczony

🇯🇵 婚約中

🇫🇷 fiancé

🇪🇸 prometido

🇹🇷 nişanlı

🇰🇷 약혼한

🇸🇦 خطيب

🇨🇿 zasnoubený

🇸🇰 zasnúbený

🇨🇳 订婚的

🇸🇮 zaročen

🇮🇸 trúlofaður

🇰🇿 үйленуге келісілген

🇬🇪 დასაქორწინებელი

🇦🇿 nişanlı

🇲🇽 prometido

Etymology

The word 'engaged' originated from the Middle French word 'engagier' which means 'to pledge'. It first appeared in the English language in the early 17th century. Initially used in the context of making a commitment or promise, it later evolved to also mean being occupied or busy with a task. The term gained popularity in the 19th century in the romantic context of formalizing a commitment to marriage. Today, 'engaged' is commonly used in both personal and professional settings to denote commitment, involvement, or busyness.

See also: disengage, disengageable, disengaged, disengagement, engage, engagement, engager, engaging, engagingly.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #1,193, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.