be engaged in

USAGE SUMMARY

'be engaged in' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe an ongoing activity or state of being. For example: "The team was engaged in an intense discussion about the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Sometimes, subjects may be engaged in groups or through a third person.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

"We should be engaged in Darfur.

The New Yorker

Magnetic resonance imaging vendors should be engaged in this process.

Neoplasia

So an adult has to be engaged in the decisions".

The Guardian - Tech

"We will be engaged in discussions in a constructive way.

The New York Times

"We want to be engaged in activities they care about".

The New York Times

I think we should be engaged in economic transformation.

The New Yorker

Moreover, poor girls may be engaged in transactional sex.

The Guardian

The men appeared to be engaged in a competition.

The New York Times

I somehow wanted to be engaged in fighting the fight.

The New York Times

White considers Berger to be engaged in "selfie science".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic writing, this phrase is particularly effective for describing subjects participating in studies or experiments.

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly use "with" when referring to a process or activity. While "be engaged in" is specifically for actions and events, "engaged with" is better suited for social interactions with people or interaction with physical tools.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be engaged in" functions as a passive verb construction (be + past participle) followed by a prepositional phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used to describe a state of participation or being occupied with a specific task, process or conflict. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often acts as the main predicate to indicate involvement in activities ranging from "combat missions" to "data collection".

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

0.1%

Wiki

0.1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be engaged in" is a highly versatile and grammatically correct expression used to denote active participation or involvement in an activity. Ludwig's data demonstrates its prevalence across diverse fields, notably in scientific research to describe experimental participation and in high-quality journalism to discuss political or social involvement. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it maintains a neutral to formal tone, making it suitable for professional writing. Writers should prefer this phrase when emphasizing the state of being involved, while ensuring the preposition "in" is used for activities, as opposed to "with" for people or tools. Overall, it is a robust choice for clear and authoritative communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be involved in

Suggests a broad level of inclusion within an activity or group.

be participating in

Emphasizes the active and voluntary act of taking part.

be occupied with

Indicates that the subject's time and attention are currently consumed.

be active in

Highlights an energetic or ongoing role within a specific field.

be immersed in

Suggests deep, total focus or a high degree of absorption in an activity.

be partaking in

Often used for consumption or specific communal activities.

be busy with

A more informal way to describe current engagement or work.

be undertaking

Focuses on the management or start of a formal task or project.

be committed to

Adds a layer of dedication or moral obligation to the involvement.

be carrying out

Emphasizes the execution or completion of a specific duty or plan.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "be engaged in"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/be+involved+in" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be involved in", "<a href="/s/be+participating+in" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be participating in" or "<a href="/s/be+occupied+with" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be occupied with".

What is the difference between "be engaged in" and <a href="/s/be+engaged+with" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be engaged with?

While "be engaged in" usually refers to an activity, process or conflict, "<a href="/s/be+engaged+with" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be engaged with" is more commonly used for interactions with people, organizations or specific equipment.

Is "be engaged in" suitable for formal reports?

Yes, it is a very common and professional phrase. You might also see more active alternatives like "<a href="/s/undertake" target="_blank" rel="alternative">undertake" or "<a href="/s/be+active+in" target="_blank" rel="alternative">be active in" used in formal contexts.

Is "be engaged in" a passive voice construction?

Technically, it uses a passive form, but it often functions to describe a state. If you prefer an active verb, you could use "<a href="/s/participate+in" target="_blank" rel="alternative">participate in" or "<a href="/s/perform" target="_blank" rel="alternative">perform".