engaged
/ɪnˈɡeɪdʒd/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒd/ (ame, ipa) · /in-ˈgājd en-/ (ame, mw)
engaged — adjective
- engagedpositive
- more engagedcomparative
- most engagedsuperlative
1. When two people are engaged, they have made a clear promise to marry each other,
When two people are engaged, they have made a clear promise to marry each other, and the relationship is often announced publicly.
Omar got engaged to his partner last weekend during a trip to the beach.
get + engaged + to + person: common phrase for the event
Ritu and Joon announced they are engaged at the family dinner on Sunday.
be + engaged: describing the state
My sister is engaged to a man she met in her first year at university.
Ada showed her mother the diamond ring after she became engaged last month.
Their engaged friends are busy planning the wedding ceremony for next June.
- single
not married or engaged
文法句型
engaged + to + person
用法筆記
The phrase 'get engaged' (short event) is more common than 'become engaged' (formal). When used without a complement ('She is engaged'), the marriage meaning is assumed in most contexts.
常見錯誤
2. giving your complete attention and active interest to something because it captu
giving your complete attention and active interest to something because it captures your curiosity or feels worth doing.
The students were deeply engaged in the chemistry experiment and did not notice the bell.
deeply engaged in + noun: showing high involvement
An engaged audience usually asks more questions and stays longer after a talk.
Cole kept the children fully engaged with songs and colourful pictures throughout the lesson.
The gripping novel kept Léa engaged from the first page onward.
The committee stayed engaged with the issue for months before reaching a decision.
- disinterested
not interested or involved; careful — not the same as 'uninterested'
- indifferent
showing no interest or concern
文法句型
engaged + in + noun/gerund
engaged + with + noun
用法筆記
Often followed by 'in' (for activities) or 'with' (for topics or people). The subject is usually a person or a group. Distinguish from sense 3: being 'engaged in' something can mean merely busy (sense 3) or truly interested (sense 2); context and modifiers like 'deeply' or 'fully' clarify which meaning is intended.
常見錯誤
3. occupied with a specific task or activity so that you cannot do other things or
occupied with a specific task or activity so that you cannot do other things or respond to interruptions.
Eli was engaged in fixing the roof, so he did not answer the phone.
engaged in + gerund: describing current occupation
I cannot join you for lunch — I am engaged in a meeting until three.
The design team was engaged in a long discussion about the new project deadline.
Soren was engaged in packing boxes for the move and asked me to come back later.
The librarian remained engaged in sorting books for most of the morning shift.
文法句型
engaged + in + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Used as a polite way to explain why someone is unavailable. Typically followed by 'in' plus a noun or gerund. The subject is always a person or group of people. This sense focuses on the fact of being busy, whereas sense 2 emphasises the quality of interest — though the two can overlap.
常見錯誤
4. In Britain, people describe a telephone line or a toilet as engaged when someone
In Britain, people describe a telephone line or a toilet as engaged when someone else is occupying it and it cannot be used.
I tried to call the office twice but both times the line was engaged.
line + was + engaged: describing a phone line already in use
The ground-floor toilet was engaged, so Ezra went up one floor.
Every time I phone the doctor's surgery I get an engaged tone.
Mauricio waited outside the meeting room while the telephone line was engaged.
We could not get through to the hotel because all the lines were engaged.
文法句型
engaged (phone/toilet) — no complement
用法筆記
Chiefly British English. In American English, 'the line is busy' is used for phones and 'occupied' or 'in use' for toilets. Outside of phones and toilets, this sense is not used — do not say 'the shower is engaged'.
常見錯誤
5. taking part in active fighting against an enemy during a war or armed conflict.
taking part in active fighting against an enemy during a war or armed conflict.
The troops were engaged in fierce combat near the border for three days.
engaged in + combat: military idiom for fighting
Our naval forces are currently engaged with enemy ships in the eastern waters.
engaged with + [enemy]: specifying the opponent
The two armies remained engaged in a deadly struggle for control of the capital city.
Soldiers who were engaged in the conflict reported severe shortages of food and water.
The United Nations reported that both sides were still engaged in active hostilities.
文法句型
engaged + in + combat/battle/fighting
engaged + with + the enemy
用法筆記
Formal register; appears mainly in military reports, news broadcasts, and historical writing. In everyday conversation, 'fighting' is far more common. The pattern 'engaged with [the enemy]' names who one is fighting; 'engaged in [combat/battle]' names the activity.
常見錯誤
❌ 'The children were engaged in a fight.' — confusing military sense with everyday conflict. Use 'fighting' or 'having a fight' for non-military contexts.