What does engager in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word engager in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use engager in French.

The word engager in French means appoint, begin, start, commit, be the opinion of , be 's opinion, advise to be + [adjective], oblige, deploy, rope in, enlist in, commit to doing , commit to do , commit yourself to doing, campaign, lobby, step onto, get involved in, enter, kick off, pawn, move, invest, start a conversation, strike up a conversation, make you liable, start legal proceedings, not commit to anything, join up, make a contractual commitment, commit to a contract, pledge to do , vow to do. To learn more, please see the details below.

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Meaning of the word engager

appoint

verbe transitif (embaucher)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Nous venons d'engager une nouvelle secrétaire.
We have just appointed a new secretary.

begin, start

verbe transitif (commencer, débuter [qch])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Nous avons engagé des tractations pour acheter cette maison.
We are entering into negotiations to buy this house.

commit

verbe transitif (lier moralement)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Cette décision vous engage pour de nombreuses années. Cette adoption engage votre responsabilité envers cet enfant.
This decision commits you for a number of years.

be the opinion of , be 's opinion

verbe impersonnel (être l'avis de [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
J'ai trouvé ce film complètement nul, mais ça n'engage que moi.
I thought the film was utter rubbish, but that's just my opinion.

advise to be + [adjective]

(inciter, inviter à faire [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Si vous décidez de poursuivre votre enquête malgré tout, je vous engage à la prudence.
If you decide to pursue your enquiries in spite of everything, I advise you to be cautious.

oblige

locution verbale (inciter inviter à faire [qch])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Les résultats de cette enquête nous engagent à intervenir. Mon professeur de piano m'a engagé à continuer dans cette voie.
My piano teacher compelled me to continue on this path.

deploy

verbe transitif (Militaire : faire participer)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Le commandement engagea une brigade sur la crête.
Command deployed a squad on the ridge.

rope in

verbe transitif (figuré, familier (enrôler [qqn] pour un tâche quelconque)

(phrasal verb, transitive, separable: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning, divisible--for example, "call off" [=cancel], "call the game off," "call off the game.")
Tu es en vacances, je t'engage pour m'aider. Tiens, toi qui ne fais rien, là, je t'engage pour faire la vaisselle.
As you're on holiday, I'll rope you in to give me a hand.

enlist in

(s'enrôler)

Luc s'engage dans la Marine pour cinq ans. Michael voulait tellement défendre son pays qu'il s'est engagé dans l'armée. Luc s'est engagé dans une association humanitaire.
Luke joined a humanitarian organisation.

commit to doing , commit to do , commit yourself to doing

(promettre)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Le gouvernement s'est engagé à recevoir les syndicats.
The government is committing to seeing the unions.

campaign, lobby

verbe pronominal (prendre parti)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
L'abbé Pierre s'était engagé en faveur des mal-logés.
Abbé Pierre campaigned for homeless people.

step onto

verbe pronominal (entrer, avancer) (on foot)

Mais quelle idée de t'être engagé dans une ruelle si étroite avec ton gros 4x4 ! Le piéton s'est engagé sur la chaussée alors que le feu était rouge pour lui.
What were you thinking driving into such a narrow alley in your hulking great 4x4?!

get involved in

(se lancer dans [qch])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Le pays s'est engagé dans une guerre qui risque d'être longue.

enter

(participer à [qch])

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Cent coureurs se sont engagés dans ce critérium. Cette jeune athlète s'est engagée dans la compétition avec enthousiasme.

kick off

verbe intransitif (Sports : donner le coup d'envoi)

(phrasal verb, intransitive: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning and not taking direct object--for example, "make up" [=reconcile]: "After they fought, they made up.")
C'est l'équipe locale qui engagera.

pawn

verbe transitif (mettre un bien en gage)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Lise avait besoin d'argent et a engagé son collier de perles.
She needed money, so she pawned her pearl necklace.

move

verbe transitif (faire entrer [qch] dans un lieu étroit)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Le conducteur a engagé son gros 4x4 dans une petite ruelle.
The driver drove his big 4x4 into a narrow alleyway.

invest

verbe transitif (investir)

(transitive verb: Verb taking a direct object--for example, "Say something." "She found the cat.")
Pierre a engagé de l'argent dans la nouvelle usine.
Peter is investing money in the new plant.

start a conversation, strike up a conversation

locution verbale (adresser la parole à [qqn])

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")
À l'arrêt de bus, un inconnu a engagé la conversation avec moi.

make you liable

locution verbale (se dire potentiellement responsable) (Legal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

start legal proceedings

locution verbale (poursuivre en justice)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Ne parvenant pas à un règlement à l'amiable, il engagea une action en justice.

not commit to anything

locution verbale (être sans risque)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Vous pouvez toujours venir jeter un coup d'œil (à la marchandise) : cela n'engage à rien.
You can always come and take a look (at the goods); there's no commitment involved.

join up

(devenir militaire)

(phrasal verb, intransitive: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning and not taking direct object--for example, "make up" [=reconcile]: "After they fought, they made up.")

make a contractual commitment, commit to a contract

(contractualiser un accord)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

pledge to do , vow to do

(prendre un engagement moral)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

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So now that you know more about the meaning of engager in French, you can learn how to use them through selected examples and how to read them. And remember to learn the related words that we suggest. Our website is constantly updating with new words and new examples so you can look up the meanings of other words you don't know in French.

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