Word
engagement
Meanings
a formal agreement to marry; the period during which two people are planning to marry
the degree of attention, interest, and active participation someone shows in an activity, conversation, or content
a planned appointment or social commitment
Definition
Engagement is an agreement to get married or the state of being involved and interested in something.
Engagement most commonly refers to a formal agreement between two people to marry. It can also mean the level of interest, attention, and active involvement someone shows in an activity, conversation, or piece of content. In work and education, it often describes how committed and participatory people are. The intended meaning is usually clear from the context.
Examples
- Their engagement was announced at a small family dinner, and everyone offered to help with the plans.
- I admired the speaker’s ability to build engagement in the room without relying on flashy visuals.
- She had to decline the invitation because a prior engagement kept her out of town that evening.
- The teacher redesigned the lesson to increase engagement, especially during the more abstract sections.
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse engagement (involvement or a promise to marry) with appointment by using it where meeting or booking would be more natural.
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