Meaning of engaged In English

• 0 having formally agreed to marry:

  • Debbie and Christa have just got engaged.

  • She was engaged to some guy in the army.

  • formal They're engaged to be married in June.

• 1 involved in something:

  • They've been engaged in a legal battle with the council for several months.

  • She's part of a team of scientists who are engaged on/upon cancer research.

  • I'd come to the meeting on Tuesday but I'm afraid I'm otherwise engaged (= doing something else).

• 2 If a phone or public toilet is engaged, someone is already using it:

  • Every time I call her, she/the phone/the number is engaged.

  • UK I've been trying to call him all evening, but I keep getting the engaged tone.

  • The sign on the toilet door said "Engaged".

• 3 publicly promising that you intend to marry someone:

  • They decided to get engaged.

• 4 if a telephone is engaged, someone is already using it:

  • Customers calling to book tickets found the line was constantly engaged.

• 5 busy doing something:

  • The president is currently engaged but you can meet with his deputy.

• 6 to be working as something:

  • At that time she was engaged as an adviser to several government departments.

• 7 to be involved in something:

  • The broadcaster is engaged in a complex legal battle over a failed joint venture.