just engaged in

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "just engaged in" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or activity that someone is currently participating in or has recently started. Example: "I was just engaged in a discussion about the new project when the meeting started."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Is Israel just engaged in election-season muscle flexing?

The New Yorker

This is unsurprising, since he has just engaged in one of many fights, but two points are worthy of note.

The New Yorker

I feel wiped out, yet invigorated, as if we've just engaged in sex or some other kind of flow activity.

The New York Times - Style

At this point in the musical, Ed the Salty Bar Owner has just engaged in an elaborate fight sequence with Bloomberg.

The New York Times

We've just engaged in a conversation that all scientists, journalists and university communicators should be having all the time, and sadly are not.

The New York Times

Behind them is the authority of the U. N. all of whose members are "peace-loving," and some of whose members have just engaged in war.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

"We just engage in random acts of preparedness".

The New Yorker

But Mr McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, are just engaging in red-baiting.

The Economist

But in the long run she, along with everyone else, is just engaging in speculation.

The New York Times - Books

To have them just engage in a public-service campaign against texting while driving is not what we do in our current system".

The New York Times

But of course JPMorgan wasn't doing do-gooder liberal stuff like solar, it was just engaging in financial tricks of little or no social value.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of your writing. While "just engaged in" is suitable for many contexts, more formal situations might benefit from alternatives like "recently participated in".

Common error

Avoid using "just engaged in" when the action is not recent or ongoing. If the action occurred in the distant past, use a past tense verb without "just".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "just engaged in" functions as a present perfect continuous tense, indicating an action that has recently begun and may still be in progress. It modifies a verb, adding the nuance of recency to the engagement.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "just engaged in" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe a recently started action or involvement. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, more formal alternatives like "recently participated in" may be preferable in academic or highly professional settings. Pay attention to tense consistency to avoid errors. The frequency is "Common"

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

recently participated in

This alternative focuses on the completion of the action, highlighting that the involvement was recent.

just taken part in

This alternative is a more literal substitution, focusing on the act of participating.

currently involved in

This option emphasizes the ongoing nature of the engagement, suggesting the action is still in progress.

newly involved in

Highlights the newness of the involvement or participation in the action.

lately active in

Implies a recent period of activity or involvement in a specific area.

just partook in

Offers a more formal alternative to "engaged in", implying a deliberate participation.

freshly immersed in

Emphasizes the intensity and recent start of being involved in something.

presently occupied with

Highlights the current state of being busy or engaged with something.

shortly engrossed in

Highlights the brief period of deep involvement in an activity.

new to participating in

Focuses on the novelty of participating in a particular activity.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "just engaged in" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "recently participated in", "newly involved in", or "recently undertook" depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "just engaged in" and "currently engaged in"?

"Just engaged in" emphasizes the recent start of an activity, while "currently engaged in" focuses on the ongoing nature of the activity at the present time. Use "just" when the action recently commenced.

Is "just engaged in" appropriate for academic writing?

While acceptable, it may be preferable to use a more formal alternative in academic writing, such as "recently participated in" or "has recently undertaken". Consider the specific requirements of your academic context.

Can I use "just engaged in" to describe a future event?

No, "just engaged in" is used to describe an action that has recently started or is currently happening. To describe a future event, use future tense verbs or phrases like "will soon engage in".