engagement

An agreement to marry someone, or the time between this agreement and the wedding.

• They announced their engagement yesterday.
• She showed us her engagement ring.
• After a long engagement, the couple finally married.

How to use it: engagement to someone (Her engagement to David lasted two years.)

Similar words: betrothal

Common phrases: engagement ring, announce an engagement, long engagement

An arrangement to attend an event, give a talk, or perform at a particular time.

• She has a speaking engagement tonight.
• He cancelled his engagement because he was ill.
• A prior engagement prevents me from attending your dinner.

Similar words: appointment, commitment

Common phrases: speaking engagement, prior engagement, public engagement

A fight between military forces.

• The engagement lasted two hours.
• Both armies lost soldiers in the engagement.
• The fleet won several naval engagements that summer.

How to use it: engagement with someone (Several soldiers died in an engagement with enemy forces.)

Similar words: battle, clash

Common phrases: military engagement, naval engagement, armed engagement

The joining of parts so that they hold together or work together.

• Check the engagement of the gears.
• Smooth clutch engagement prevents sudden movement.
• The mechanism failed because the teeth were not in full engagement.

How to use it: engagement of A with B (The engagement of the gear with the shaft transfers power.)

Similar words: connection, coupling

Opposites: disengagement

Common phrases: gear engagement, clutch engagement, full engagement

In fencing, the point when opponents are close enough to touch swords or attack.

• The fencers reached engagement and raised their blades.
• At engagement, she moved quickly to attack.
• He stayed beyond engagement until his opponent stepped forward.

Common phrases: point of engagement, engagement distance