engaged
To be engaged means that two people have promised to marry each other. It describes the time between a couple's decision to wed and the actual wedding ceremony.
Examples
3 of 5My brother and his girlfriend just got engaged.
My brother and his girlfriend just got engaged.
The couple announced they were formally engaged to be married.
The couple announced they were formally engaged to be married.
Hey! Did you hear that Sarah and Mark are finally engaged?
Hey! Did you hear that Sarah and Mark are finally engaged?
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the word 'engaged' like a 'gage' (a pledge) that you put 'in' to guarantee a future wedding.
Quick Quiz
They have been ___ for two years, and they are finally getting married in June.
Correct!
The correct answer is: engaged
Examples
My brother and his girlfriend just got engaged.
everydayMy brother and his girlfriend just got engaged.
The couple announced they were formally engaged to be married.
formalThe couple announced they were formally engaged to be married.
Hey! Did you hear that Sarah and Mark are finally engaged?
informalHey! Did you hear that Sarah and Mark are finally engaged?
The survey tracks how long engaged couples wait before the wedding.
academicThe survey tracks how long engaged couples wait before the wedding.
The CEO is recently engaged and will take a leave of absence for the wedding.
businessThe CEO is recently engaged and will take a leave of absence for the wedding.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
get engaged to someone
to make a promise to marry a specific person
an engaged couple
two people who are going to get married
newly engaged
people who just started their engagement
Often Confused With
In British English, a phone line is 'engaged' when it is busy; in a family context, it only means promised to marry.
Usage Notes
When talking about people, always use the preposition 'to' (e.g., 'He is engaged to Mary') rather than 'with'.
Common Mistakes
Learners often say 'engaged with someone' instead of the correct 'engaged to someone'.
Memory Tip
Think of the word 'engaged' like a 'gage' (a pledge) that you put 'in' to guarantee a future wedding.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old French word 'engagier', which means to bind by a pledge or a promise.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many Western cultures, being engaged is usually symbolized by wearing a diamond ring on the fourth finger of the left hand.
Quick Quiz
They have been ___ for two years, and they are finally getting married in June.
Correct!
The correct answer is: engaged
Related Grammar Rules
Related Phrases
Related Vocabulary
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mother
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son
A1A male child or man in relation to his parents. It is a fundamental kinship term used to describe a direct male descendant in a family.
child
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sister
A1A sister is a girl or woman who shares the same parents as another person. It can also refer to a woman who shares one parent or someone who is very close like a family member.
twin
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baby
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toddler
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adult
A1A person who is fully grown and developed, typically someone who is 18 years of age or older. It is used to distinguish a mature individual from a child or a teenager.
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