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/ɛmplˈɔɪ/ /ɪmplˈɔɪ/ Listen

verb

Employ v. t. (past & past part. employed; pres. part. employing)

To inclose; to infold. (Obs.)

To use; to have in service; to cause to be engaged in doing something; often followed by in, about, on, or upon, and sometimes by to; as:

(a)

To make use of, as an instrument, a means, a material, etc., for a specific purpose; to apply; as, to employ the pen in writing, bricks in building, words and phrases in speaking; to employ the mind; to employ one's energies. "This is a day in which the thoughts... ought to be employed on serious subjects."

(b)

To occupy; as, to employ time in study.

(c)

To have or keep at work; to give employment or occupation to; to intrust with some duty or behest; as, to employ a hundred workmen; to employ an envoy. "Jonathan... and Jahaziah... were employed about this matter." "Thy vineyard must employ the sturdy steer To turn the glebe."

To employ one's self, to apply or devote one's time and attention; to busy one's self.

Synonyms: To use; busy; apply; exercise; occupy; engross; engage. See Use.

noun

Employ n. That which engages or occupies a person; fixed or regular service or business; employment. "The whole employ of body and of mind."

In one's employ, in one's service.

See images of 'Employ'

Etymology of 'Employ'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Employ" Quotes from Famous Books

... Himself musters the hosts of war. Religion is too much interested in your success not to lend you her aid; she will shed over this enterprise her selectest influences. While you are engaged in the field many will repair to the closet, many to the sanctuary; the faithful of every name will employ that prayer which has power with God; the feeble hands which are unequal to any other weapon will grasp the sword of the Spirit; from myriads of humble, contrite hearts, the voice of intercession, supplication, and weeping, will mingle in its ascent to heaven with the shouts of battle ...

— The Glory of English Prose - Letters to My Grandson • Stephen Coleridge

... by themselves. Juve had made the Baron pass into the room before him. He knew there was but one exit—the door. If in order to get clear away, de Naarboveck meant to employ force or trickery, he would first have to remove Juve from the door, before which he ...

— A Nest of Spies • Pierre Souvestre

... arm around him. Soon he acted like a big dog. I could lead him about by a strap, and I made a little halter and a bridle for him. I didn't see why I shouldn't train him a little while he was young and manageable. I think it is cruel to let colts run till one has to employ severity in mastering them. Of course, I did not let him do much work. Colts are like boys a boy shouldn't do a man's work, but he had exercise every day, and I trained him to draw a light cart ...

— Beautiful Joe • Marshall Saunders

... who interested me was Glalkin Wraskoy. He was devoted, night and day, to improving the Russian prison system. That there was much need of such work was certain; but the fact that this personage in government employ was so devoted to improvements, and had called together in Russia a convention of men interested in the amelioration of prison systems, led me to think that the Russian Government is not so utterly and wilfully ...

— Autobiography of Andrew Dickson White Volume II • Andrew Dickson White

... children under twelve nor employ any families that send their little children to other mills. That was one of the first steps I took; to settle that. The other thing is somewhat less easy to manage. I cannot make a rule. There would be endless shamming. The only way is to keep a careful supervision myself, ...

— The Gold of Chickaree • Susan Warner

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