/ ɪnˈgeɪdʒmənt; NAmE / noun
BEFORE MARRIAGE
1.
[ C ] engagement (to sb) an agreement to marry sb; the period during which two people are engaged :
Their engagement was announced in the local paper.
She has broken off her engagement to Charles.
an engagement party
a long / short engagement
ARRANGEMENT TO DO STH
2.
[ C ] an arrangement to do sth at a particular time, especially sth official or sth connected with your job :
an engagement book / diary
He has a number of social engagements next week.
It was her first official engagement .
I had to refuse because of a prior engagement .
FIGHTING
3.
[ C , U ] ( technical ) fighting between two armies, etc. :
The general tried to avoid an engagement with the enemy.
BEING INVOLVED
4.
[ U ] engagement (with sb/sth) ( formal ) being involved with sb/sth in an attempt to understand them / it :
Her views are based on years of engagement with the problems of the inner city.
EMPLOYMENT
5.
[ U , C ] ( BrE ) an arrangement to employ sb; the process of employing sb :
The terms of engagement are to be agreed in writing.
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent. (in the general sense a legal or moral obligation ): French , from engager to pledge.