engagement

Everyday

1. An engagement is an agreement to marry someone; a couple who are engaged usually wear or give an engagement ring. tree →
2. (formal) An arrangement to meet someone or be somewhere: «a dinner engagement». tree →
3. Engagement is being interested and taking part: «pupils' engagement in lessons». tree →
4. A battle or fight between armies. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday family life an engagement party celebrates a couple who plan to marry. In school reports teachers talk about engagement in learning. In history lessons an engagement can mean a battle. Phrases: «engagement ring», «announce their engagement», «a prior engagement», «student engagement».

Examples

• My cousin showed us her engagement ring. tree →
• They announced their engagement at the family dinner. tree →
• The engagement lasted a year before the wedding. tree →
• I'm sorry, I have a prior engagement on Saturday. tree →
• The teacher praised our class's engagement in the project. tree →
• The naval engagement lasted all day. tree →
• We went to my aunt's engagement party. tree →
• “An engagement I have,” she replied. tree →

Note

Countable for a promise to marry, a meeting or a battle; uncountable for «taking part». Related: engage, engaged (also: busy, as a phone line in the UK). An engagement can be «broken off».