engagement
noun
en·gage·ment in-ˈgāj-mənt 
en-
1
a
: an arrangement to meet or be present at a specified time and place
a dinner engagement
b
: a job or period of employment especially as a performer
2
: something that engages : pledge
3
a
: the act of engaging : the state of being engaged
b
: emotional involvement or commitment
seesaws between obsessive engagement and ambiguous detachment
Gary Taylor
Gary Taylor c
: betrothal
4
: the state of being in gear
5
: a hostile encounter between military forces
Synonyms
- betrothal
- espousal
- troth
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The couple recently announced their engagement. She surprised everyone by breaking off her yearlong engagement. We have a dinner engagement this weekend. She's been offered several speaking engagements. his lifelong engagement with politics a lack of emotional engagement See More
Recent Examples on the Web The following month, Bledel gave the world a glimpse of her gorgeous octagonal-shaped diamond engagement ring at the premiere of Remembering Sunday. Lydia Price, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2022 The engagement ring William proposed to her with, for example, once belonged to his mother. Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 9 Sep. 2022 Memorably, Philip recycled his mother's jewels to make a stunning engagement ring for his future bride. Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, 8 Sep. 2022 His purchases included residences in Naples, stocks and investment securities, a 2019 Tiara 34LS boat, a 4.02-carat engagement ring, and ammunition, the release noted. Stacey Henson, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2022 In his countercomplaint, Gray claimed that Quillen had taken a $160,000 engagement ring that Gray bought for Jacqueline — an accusation that Quillen has denied. Paul Schwartzman, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 On her hand were several separate and distinctive gemmed bands, including her grandmother’s engagement ring, a large aquamarine ring, and a pink coral ring her grandmother bought in Jamaica during the 1930s. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2022 Swift was outfitted in a chic floral v-neck dress and, as Daily Mail pointed out, had no engagement ring on her left ring finger despite months of tabloid rumors. Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 25 Aug. 2022 Lopez accessorized her trio of custom Ralph Lauren gowns with still more mesmerizing jewelry, including diamonds that complemented—but didn’t compete with—her spectacular engagement ring. Alice Cary, Glamour, 24 Aug. 2022 See More
Lydia Price, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2022 The engagement ring William proposed to her with, for example, once belonged to his mother. Rosa Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 9 Sep. 2022 Memorably, Philip recycled his mother's jewels to make a stunning engagement ring for his future bride. Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, 8 Sep. 2022 His purchases included residences in Naples, stocks and investment securities, a 2019 Tiara 34LS boat, a 4.02-carat engagement ring, and ammunition, the release noted. Stacey Henson, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2022 In his countercomplaint, Gray claimed that Quillen had taken a $160,000 engagement ring that Gray bought for Jacqueline — an accusation that Quillen has denied. Paul Schwartzman, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2022 On her hand were several separate and distinctive gemmed bands, including her grandmother’s engagement ring, a large aquamarine ring, and a pink coral ring her grandmother bought in Jamaica during the 1930s. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2022 Swift was outfitted in a chic floral v-neck dress and, as Daily Mail pointed out, had no engagement ring on her left ring finger despite months of tabloid rumors. Alyssa Bailey, ELLE, 25 Aug. 2022 Lopez accessorized her trio of custom Ralph Lauren gowns with still more mesmerizing jewelry, including diamonds that complemented—but didn’t compete with—her spectacular engagement ring. Alice Cary, Glamour, 24 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing engagement
Kids Definition
engagement
noun
en·gage·ment in-ˈgāj-mənt
1
: the act of becoming engaged to be married : the state of being engaged to be married They announced their engagement.
2
: employment sense 3
He was offered several speaking engagements.
3
: appointment sense 1
It was Saturday and she had an important engagement. Ellen Raskin, The Westing Game
Ellen Raskin, The Westing Game4
: a fight between armed forces : battle
Medical Definition
engagement
noun
en·gage·ment in-ˈgāj-mənt
: the phase of childbirth in which the fetal head passes into the cavity of the true pelvis
engagement
noun
1
as in betrothal
the act or state of being engaged to be married the fun couple recently announced their engagement Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- betrothal
- espousal
- troth
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- disengagement
2
as in date
an agreement to be present at a specified time and place a lifelong practice of marking all of my engagements on a weekly calendar Synonyms & Similar Words
- date
- appointment
- rendezvous
- assignation
- invitation
- meeting
- tryst
- arrangement
- interview
- visit
- schedule
- get-together
- call
3
as in employment
the state of being provided with a paying job his engagement as a caddie at the golf club was his first work experience Synonyms & Similar Words
- employment
- employ
- tenure
- work
- recruitment
- assignment
- appointment
- hire
- position
- occupation
- enlistment
- situation
- conscription
- post
- place
- incumbency
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- removal
- unemployment
- dismissal
- firing
- discharge
- suspension
- retirement
- joblessness
- boot
- severance
- nonemployment
- sack
- liberty
- furlough
- layoff
- leave
- demotion