Definition of engagingnext
1
2

engaging

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verb

present participle of engage
1
2
as in facing
to enter into contest or conflict with the daring young captain was eager to engage the enemy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in committing
to obligate by prior agreement we can't go to the dance because we're already engaged to attend a piano recital

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
as in hiring
to take or get the temporary use of (something) for a set sum my sister and her boyfriend have engaged a chauffeured limousine for the prom

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of engaging
Adjective
Group fitness classes can make strength training more engaging while adding social connection and accountability. Julia Landwehr, HEALTH, 7 Aug. 2026 That might make this desirable to gadget nerds who aren't even necessarily in the market for a less engaging phone. Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
Core benefits Boat pose challenges the ab muscles while also engaging the hip flexors, glutes and back, according to Leach. Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Three Yemeni government sources told Reuters air defenses were engaging drones launched by the Houthis toward the commercial quay and storage in the port. Reuters, NBC news, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for engaging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for engaging
Adjective
  • If their creations are deemed visually appealing, the males win the ultimate prize — mating privileges.
    Dina Cheney, Washington Post, 8 Aug. 2026
  • To make Chinese legal institutions more appealing, Beijing would need to grant them genuine autonomy rather than merely expecting professionalism in routine cases.
    Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Ours can start as one page of a contract, on the least interesting sheet in the agreement, the one nobody reads aloud.
    Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Do not scatter your energy across every interesting possibility.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The first four episodes made available for review likewise have tiny sparks of interest, from some witty dialogue to genuine plot momentum to intriguing new characters popping up.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 21 June 2026
  • His 6-foot-6 frame and power potential offer intriguing athletic tools.
    Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • Jacobs practiced all offseason, but his status remains one of 10 big questions facing Green Bay.
    Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Despite acknowledging mistakes were made, FIFA is still facing a barrage of obstacles that are preventing it and Infantino from moving on from the saga.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Fairview’s board thought hard before committing to such a costly venture, but had a dream, said Edie Kalin, president of the Odd Fellows Home of CT.
    Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson matched the MLB record of 110 straight games without committing an error at the position.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Distribution among company size was relatively balanced, with firms employing fewer than 50 people leading with 23,000 new jobs.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Many skeptics see a contradiction in high-achieving, mostly white young voters employing rhetoric about labor and solidarity.
    Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The Bruins announced the hiring Monday of the 35-year-old Carr, who is volunteering in his first major coaching role.
    CBS News, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • McDonnell seemed to prize family connections over real-world experience, hiring her nephews to serve as directors and executive producers on various series.
    Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Haaland was one of the top scorers and most charismatic players at the World Cup held in Mexico, the United States, and Canada, and his imposing stature and goofy sense of humor sparked a wave of creative viral videos and memes.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The song follows a man trying to impress and attract a woman, using Jagger’s famously charismatic stage presence as a metaphor for confidence, swagger and romantic appeal.
    Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Engaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/engaging. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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