be engaged to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be engaged to" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone is formally committed to marry another person. Example: "After dating for two years, they decided to be engaged to each other."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This cannot be! — engaged to Mr. Darcy!

The New Yorker

You don't have to be engaged to get it.

The New York Times

So, how can stakeholders be engaged to make CSR meaningful?

The Guardian

But they decide they're so in love they don't need to be engaged to stay together.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Fisher, who claimed to be engaged to Fayed, promptly sued him for "breach of contract".

The Guardian

Children can be "engaged" to marry from birth, so FMPOs have no minimum age restrictions.

The Guardian

Jaitly's daughter works for Jadeja and is said to be engaged to marry him.

The Guardian - Sport

Maybe he was from Ireland and named Declan Collins and happened to be engaged to Ms. Crommett.

The New York Times

Press reports say that he has two wives, and he is sometimes reported to be engaged to a Swaziland princess.

The New York Times

And my brother used to be engaged to the daughter of the bass player of 1970s glamsters the Sweet".

The Guardian - Sport

Pilby's adventures introduce her to a compatible boy (Jason Ritter) who just so happens to be engaged to be married.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a marriage that is planned but not yet formally announced, consider alternatives like "be slated to marry" or "be set to wed".

Common error

Avoid using "be engaged to" when referring to being busy or involved in an activity. This phrase specifically denotes a formal commitment to marry someone. Instead, use "be involved in", "be occupied with", or "be participating in" when describing active involvement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be engaged to" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of formal commitment to marry someone. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage. Examples show it used across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be engaged to" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to denote a formal commitment to marry. Ludwig AI validates its widespread acceptance across various domains, including news, science, and formal communication. While alternatives like "be betrothed to" exist, "be engaged to" remains a common and clear way to express this particular relationship status. Remembering its specific meaning helps to avoid confusion with other uses of the word "engaged". It's versatile enough for both formal announcements and informal discussions about marriage plans.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be betrothed to

This alternative denotes a formal agreement to marry, similar to "be engaged to", but with a more traditional connotation.

be promised in marriage to

This alternative emphasizes the act of promising someone in marriage, highlighting the agreement aspect.

be affianced to

This alternative is a formal and somewhat archaic way of saying "be engaged to".

be slated to marry

This alternative indicates that a marriage is planned or scheduled, focusing on the future event.

be set to wed

This alternative suggests an imminent marriage, emphasizing the preparation for the wedding.

be intended to marry

This alternative focuses on the intention or plan to marry someone.

be due to marry

This alternative expresses that a marriage is expected or scheduled to happen.

be going to marry

This alternative is a more informal way of expressing a future marriage plan.

have plans to marry

This alternative emphasizes the existence of plans for marriage, but doesn't necessarily imply a formal engagement.

be in a committed relationship with

This alternative describes a serious relationship but doesn't specifically imply an engagement.

FAQs

What does "be engaged to" mean?

The phrase "be engaged to" means to be formally committed to marry someone. It signifies an agreement or promise to marry in the future.

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

You can use alternatives like "be betrothed to", "be promised in marriage to", or "be affianced to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "be engaged with" instead of "be engaged to" when referring to marriage?

No, "be engaged with" has a different meaning. "Be engaged to" indicates a formal commitment to marry, while "be engaged with" means to be involved or occupied with something else entirely. For example, a person can "be engaged with" a project at work.

How does the formality of "be engaged to" compare to "be going to marry"?

The phrase "be engaged to" is generally more formal than "be going to marry". The former suggests a formal announcement and agreement, while the latter simply indicates a plan for marriage.