are engaged in

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are engaged in" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing activity or action that someone or a group of people are actively involved in. Example: The students are engaged in a lively discussion about the current political climate. In this sentence, "are engaged in" shows that the students are actively involved in the discussion and it is currently happening.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

We are engaged in negotiations to nowhere.

The New York Times

Both are engaged in unequivocal political crimes.

The Guardian

"Yes, we are engaged in combat operations.

The Guardian

The others are engaged in quantitative easing.

The Guardian - Business

They are engaged in training and mentoring".

The Guardian

"The Taliban are engaged in too many places.

The New York Times

Actor and actress are engaged in their own ego wars.

The New York Times

We are engaged in active discussions with the British government.

The Guardian - Business

"We are engaged in creating a convincing fake," he says.

The Guardian - Arts

As a novelist, you are engaged in something analogous.

The New Yorker

Mr. Ebbers and the company are engaged in complicated negotiations.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are engaged in" to clearly indicate active participation or involvement in a specific activity or process. Ensure the subject and verb agree in number (e.g., "The team is engaged in...", "The teams are engaged in...").

Common error

Avoid using "are engaged in" when a more direct active voice construction would be clearer and more concise. For instance, instead of "The project is being engaged in by the team", prefer "The team is working on the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are engaged in" functions as a verb phrase indicating active involvement or participation in a particular activity, process, or state. Ludwig provides examples across different contexts, showcasing its use to describe ongoing actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

22%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Huffington Post

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are engaged in" is a versatile verb phrase used to denote active participation or involvement in an activity. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used in written English. Its frequency is very common, appearing across diverse contexts, with the majority of examples originating from news and media, science, and encyclopedia sources. While semantically similar phrases like "are involved in" and "are participating in" offer alternatives, "are engaged in" strikes a balance between formality and clarity. The best practice is to employ it to precisely show an ongoing activity, while being mindful of avoiding passive voice constructions for clearer and more direct writing. Therefore, understanding and using "are engaged in" correctly enhances the precision and professionalism of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are involved in

Replaces "engaged" with "involved", suggesting participation or connection without necessarily implying active effort.

are participating in

Focuses on the act of taking part in an activity or event.

are occupied with

Emphasizes the state of being busy or preoccupied with something.

are active in

Highlights the state of being energetic and involved in a particular area or activity.

are immersed in

Suggests a deep level of involvement and absorption in something.

are absorbed in

Similar to immersed, but with a focus on mental absorption.

are engrossed in

Implies being completely captivated and occupied by something.

are consumed by

Suggests that something dominates one's attention and energy.

are busy with

A more general term for being occupied or involved.

are undertaking

Focuses on the action of starting or pursuing a particular task or project.

FAQs

How can I use "are engaged in" in a sentence?

Use "are engaged in" to describe an ongoing activity or involvement. For example, "The researchers are engaged in a study about climate change".

What's a more concise alternative to "are engaged in"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "are involved in", "are participating in", or simply "work on".

Is it better to say "are engaged in" or "are doing"?

"Are engaged in" is more specific and formal, suggesting active involvement, while "are doing" is more general. Choose the phrase that best reflects the level of detail you want to convey.

How does the meaning of "are engaged in" differ from "are interested in"?

"Are engaged in" implies active participation, whereas "are interested in" suggests curiosity or a potential for involvement, but not necessarily active participation.