was engaged by

USAGE SUMMARY

"was engaged by" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is commonly used to describe someone being hired or employed by someone else. Example: The talented young lawyer, Sarah, was engaged by the top law firm in the city after she graduated from law school.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The heart was engaged by law and order.

The New Yorker

Everywhere I went, I was engaged by locals.

The New York Times - Travel

I was engaged, by this debut novel by Susie Steiner, from the very first page.

The Guardian - Books

The convoy was engaged by a Nato aircraft to reduce the threat".

The Guardian

In 1350 another Chinese performer was engaged by the northern court as an instructor.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His name is Merlin William Lessler, and, yes, indeed, he was engaged by the state's delegate-rich election.

The New York Times

In 1929 he was engaged by Paramount to work in Hollywood on the film version of his play "The General".

The New Yorker

"Mr Dines was engaged by the university as a business manager and his role is solely administrative.

The Guardian

At 24, in 1951, the critic was engaged by Guinness as Player King, in his second Hamlet.

The Guardian

Brown, was engaged by the World Health Organization to make a comprehensive survey of the resistance problem.

The New Yorker

The New Yorker, June 3, 1939 P. 32 A Negro maid with perfect manners was engaged by author.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about battles, use "was engaged by" to denote one entity being attacked by another.

Common error

Avoid using "was engaged by" to mean merely "interested in". "Engaged by" implies a more active involvement or formal arrangement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was engaged by" functions as a passive voice construction. It indicates that the subject of the sentence received an action from an agent. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its correct usage in written English. Examples show its application in contexts ranging from employment to military engagements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was engaged by" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive voice construction, as validated by Ludwig AI. It is most commonly found in news articles, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. The phrase is versatile, signifying employment, conflict initiation, or attraction, with a register that leans towards neutral to professional. While "was engaged by" is generally interchangeable with terms like "was hired by" and "was employed by", it's crucial to differentiate its meaning from simply being "interested in". It's vital to select it for instances when indicating an active and formal engagement or a deliberate act of initiating conflict or attraction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was hired by

This alternative directly replaces "engaged" with "hired", emphasizing employment.

was employed by

Similar to "hired by", this suggests a more formal employment relationship.

was contracted by

This implies a formal agreement for services, often short-term.

was appointed by

Suggests a formal selection or assignment to a role.

was captivated by

This shifts the meaning to being fascinated or charmed, not employment-related.

was fascinated by

Indicates a strong interest or attraction.

was involved in

Focuses on participation or inclusion in an activity or event.

was immersed in

Suggests deep involvement or absorption in something.

was occupied by

Implies being busy or actively doing something.

was utilized by

Suggests being used or leveraged by someone or something.

FAQs

How can I use "was engaged by" in a sentence?

Use "was engaged by" to describe a situation where someone or something was hired, employed, or attacked by another entity. For example, "The architect "was engaged by" the city to design the new museum".

What's the difference between "was engaged by" and "was hired by"?

While similar, "was engaged by" can sometimes suggest a more specialized or professional arrangement than "was hired by". "Was hired by" is a "more general term" for employment.

What are some alternatives to "was engaged by"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "was employed by", "was contracted by", or "was appointed by".

Is "was engaged by" formal or informal?

"Was engaged by" is generally considered neutral to formal, suitable for professional and academic writing. In more informal contexts, "was busy with" or "was involved in" might be more appropriate.