employ

1 of 2

verb

em·​ploy im-ˈplȯi How to pronounce employ (audio)
em-
employed; employing; employs

transitive verb

1
a
: to make use of (someone or something inactive)
employ a pen for sketching
b
: to use (something, such as time) advantageously
a job that employed her skills
c(1)
: to use or engage the services of
(2)
: to provide with a job that pays wages or a salary
2
: to devote to or direct toward a particular activity or person
employed all her energies to help the poor

employ

2 of 2

noun

em·​ploy im-ˈplȯi How to pronounce employ (audio)
ˈim-ˌplȯi,
ˈem-ˌplȯi How to pronounce employ (audio)
1
2
: the state of being employed
in the city's employ
Choose the Right Synonym for employ

use, employ, utilize mean to put into service especially to attain an end.

use implies availing oneself of something as a means or instrument to an end.

willing to use any means to achieve her ends

employ suggests the use of a person or thing that is available but idle, inactive, or disengaged.

looking for better ways to employ their skills

utilize may suggest the discovery of a new, profitable, or practical use for something.

an old wooden bucket utilized as a planter

Examples of employ in a Sentence

Verb The company is accused of employing questionable methods to obtain the contract. You should find better ways to employ your time. I had to employ a lawyer to review the contract. It's a small company, employing a staff of only 20. Noun while you're under our employ, you can't do outside work for our competitors
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Ashley Forrest, a spokesperson for the school district, confirmed Correll, 29, was employed as a theater teacher from August 2020 until March 19. Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2024 This strategy was employed by SWAT to return fire, retreat from the residence, and deploy nonlethal options. The Arizona Republic, 25 Mar. 2024 George was employed as a principal with West Fargo Public Schools. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 23 Mar. 2024 The business jet industry contributes $250 billion to the U.S. GDP and employs more than 1.2 million people, according to the National Business Aviation Association, an industry group, and some of its biggest players have a lot to lose from any changes to corporate jet tax incentives. Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 21 Mar. 2024 The auto industry employs thousands of voters in Michigan, a swing state that could determine who will win the White House in November. Coral Davenport, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Lisa Casey, who is Black and has been employed by the Board of Public Utilities since 1994, filed the latest federal lawsuit on Friday, alleging she was passed over for a job and denied other opportunities given to white coworkers. Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024 Many firms employ unmanned autonomous vehicles for explorations just as vivid. Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 The problem arose when groups started employing it as a hate-speech code instead. Eyal Press, The New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2024
Noun
Any woman who does marry while under his employ must resign immediately. Sarah Murphy, Sacramento Bee, 1 Feb. 2024 After his uncle’s death, Copernicus relocated to the town of Frombork and continued in the church’s employ. Danuta Hamlin, Fox News, 18 Feb. 2024 But then the people in his employ told an NBA newsbreaker. Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2024 Neus Coronado, one of three full-time slicers García employs, can produce a tidy pinwheel of uniform, nearly paper-thin slices in just a few minutes. Bonnie Berkowitz, Washington Post, 19 Jan. 2024 First shown as a two-seat concept car at the Turin Motor Show in November of 1966, the sleek fastback GT was penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro, then under the employ of Carrozzeria Ghia. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 4 Dec. 2023 My Cup of Tea employs and supports women in need in the Orange Mound community in Memphis. Enjanae' Taylor, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2023 One tactic Woods employs is executing very short hunts in the evening. Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 2 Nov. 2023 Others in her circle may be anxious about what the people in their employ will say about them. Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 26 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'employ.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English emploien, emplien "to apply or devote (a thing to a purpose), apply (oneself) to a task, make use of, expend," borrowed from Anglo-French empleier, emploier, emplier "to entangle, fabricate, put to use, devote (oneself) to" (continental Middle French also "to make use of, apply, occupy [time], expend [money], use the services of [a person]"), going back to Latin implicāre "to fold about itself, entwine, entangle, involve, embroil" — more at implicate

Note: This verb does not appear in Middle English before the fifteenth century, and the predominance of the form with -oi-, retained in early Modern English, most likely reflects ongoing influence of continental French. — Latin implicāre gave rise to a verb meaning "to use, make use of" in Gallo-Romance (Old Occitan emplegar in addition to French empleier), Italian (impiegare) and Catalan (emplegar). Spanish emplear is an early borrowing from Old French. Compare imply.

Noun

borrowed from French emploi, going back to Middle French, "use, service," noun derivative of emploier "to put to use, employ entry 1"

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1679, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of employ was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near employ

Cite this Entry

“Employ.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/employ. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

employ

1 of 2 verb
em·​ploy im-ˈplȯi How to pronounce employ (audio)
1
: to make use of : use
2
a
: to use or obtain the services of
employ a lawyer to draw up a will
b
: to provide with a job that pays wages or a salary
employ a staff of twenty
3
: to use or direct toward a particular goal
employ all of your energies to getting the job done
employable
-ə-bəl
adjective

employ

2 of 2 noun
: employment especially for wages or a salary
generous to people in their employ

More from Merriam-Webster on employ

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!