Meaning & use
engaging
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Interesting and pleasant in a way that holds your attention.
Grammar: Gradable adjective; you can say 'very engaging' or 'more engaging than'. Often describes people, stories, or performances.
Patterns
- an engaging speaker
- an engaging story
- find something engaging
She gave an engaging talk that kept everyone listening for an hour.
The novel is engaging from the first page to the last.
His engaging smile made him popular with customers.
verbtransitive or intransitive
Present participle of 'engage'; taking part in or attracting attention.
Grammar: Used in progressive tenses: He is engaging in a debate. Also as a gerund: Engaging in sports is healthy.
Patterns
- be engaging in something
- engaging with someone
The company is engaging with local communities to improve its image.
She is engaging in a new research project this year.
They were engaging in a heated discussion when I arrived.
Word forms
| comparative | more engaging |
|---|---|
| superlative | most engaging |
Common combinations
- engaging personality
- Her engaging personality made her a great team leader.
- engaging speaker
- The conference opened with an engaging speaker.
- highly engaging
- The documentary was highly engaging and won several awards.
- engaging in conversation
- He is skilled at engaging in conversation with strangers.
Synonyms and how they differ
- charming
- Charming suggests a delightful, often slightly flattering quality, while engaging focuses on holding your interest.
- captivating
- Captivating is stronger and more emotional; engaging is milder and more about attention.
- interesting
- Interesting is a general word; engaging implies that you are actively drawn in and not bored.
Opposites
Word family
- engage verb
- To attract and hold someone's attention; also to employ or take part.
- engagement noun
- An agreement to marry; also an arrangement to meet or take part.
- engaged adjective
- Busy or involved; also having agreed to marry.
Commonly confused: engaging or engaged?
engaging vs engaged
Engaged means busy, involved, or promised to marry; engaging means interesting and attention-holding. A person can be engaged (busy) but not engaging (interesting).
Practice
The professor was so ______ that even the sleepiest students stayed awake.
Choose one answer.
'Engaging' is the adjective meaning interesting and attention-holding. 'Engaged' would mean busy or involved, which does not fit the context of holding students' attention. 'Engagement' is a noun, and 'engage' is a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “engaging”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.