Engagement vs. Engaged — What's the Difference?

An engagement or betrothal is the period of time between a marriage proposal and the marriage itself (which is typically but not always commenced with a wedding). During this period, a couple is said to be fiancés (from the French), betrothed, intended, affianced, engaged to be married, or simply engaged.

Busy; occupied.

The action of engaging or the state of being engaged

Having formally agreed to marry

The condition of being in working position

(of a column) attached to or partly let into a wall.

A mutual promise to get married.

Employed, occupied, or busy.

The period during which this promise is kept

Committed, as to a cause.

A pledge or obligation

Pledged to marry; betrothed

A promise or agreement to be at a particular place at a particular time

Involved in conflict or battle.

Employment, especially for a specified time

Being in gear; meshed.

A specific, often limited, period of employment

Partly embedded in, built into, or attached to another part, as columns on a wall.

A hostile encounter; a battle or skirmish.

Simple past tense and past participle of engage

(countable) An appointment, especially to speak or perform.

Having agreed to marry a particular person (one's fiancé or fiancée) or each other.

(uncountable) Connection or attachment.

Busy or employed.

The feeling of being compelled, drawn in, connected to what is happening, interested in what will happen next.

Greatly interested.

The period of time when marriage is planned or promised.

(British) (of a telephone) Already involved in a telephone call when a third party calls.

In any situation of conflict, an actual instance of active hostilities.

Attached to a wall or sunk into it halfway

The point at which the fencers are close enough to join blades, or to make an effective attack during an encounter.

(of gears or cogs) in contact and in operation

The act of engaging, pledging, enlisting, occupying, or entering into contest.

(military) being attacked or attacking

The state of being engaged, pledged or occupied; specif., a pledge to take some one as husband or wife.

Having the widest part of its presenting part, usually the head, enter the pelvic brim or inlet.

That which engages; engrossing occupation; employment of the attention; obligation by pledge, promise, or contract; an enterprise embarked in; as, his engagements prevented his acceptance of any office.

Synonym of engagé

An action; a fight; a battle.

Occupied; employed; busy.

The state of being in gear; as, one part of a clutch is brought into engagement with the other part.

Pledged; promised; especially, having the affections pledged; promised in marriage; affianced; betrothed.

A hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war;

Greatly interested; of awakened zeal; earnest.

A meeting arranged in advance;

Involved; esp., involved in a hostile encounter; as, the engaged ships continued the fight.

A mutual promise to marry

Having ones attention or mind or energy engaged;

The act of giving someone a job

Involved in military hostilities;

Employment for performers or performing groups that lasts for a limited period of time;

Reserved in advance

Contact by fitting together;

(of facilities such as telephones or lavatories) unavailable for use by anyone else or indicating unavailability; (`engaged' is a British term for a busy telephone line);

The act of sharing in the activities of a group;

(used of toothed parts or gears) interlocked and interacting;

Having services contracted for;

Built against or attached to a wall;

Pledged to be married;