employed; employing; employs
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
1
b
: occupation, job
2
: the state of being employed
in the city's employ
Synonyms
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
Sophie Hills, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Apr. 2024
The legislation also would prevent facilities from hiring or continuing to employ people whose names are on Adult Protective Services’ abuse registry and increase dementia training requirements for workers at facilities licensed to serve residents who need the most help.
—Wyatt Buchanan, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
The district of more than 1,000 schools employs nearly 120 restorative justice teachers, meaning only about a tenth of schools have one.
—Gail Cornwall, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The Russian police have responded to the terrorist attack, the most lethal in the country in decades, by raiding thousands of construction sites, dormitories, cafes and warehouses that employ and cater to migrants.
—Valerie Hopkins, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The labor force is the total number of people employed and unemployed.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
Nearly 40 years later — though Cohen stepped away from the spotlight, with his last credit being 1991's Perfect Harmony — the two worked together again when Quan was ironing out his contract for Everything Everywhere All at Once, and employed Cohen, now an entertainment lawyer, to represent him.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
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
Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2024
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
Verb
At its height, the mill on Sparrows Point employed 31,000 people.
—Sophie Hills, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Apr. 2024
The legislation also would prevent facilities from hiring or continuing to employ people whose names are on Adult Protective Services’ abuse registry and increase dementia training requirements for workers at facilities licensed to serve residents who need the most help.
—Wyatt Buchanan, The Arizona Republic, 5 Apr. 2024
The district of more than 1,000 schools employs nearly 120 restorative justice teachers, meaning only about a tenth of schools have one.
—Gail Cornwall, USA TODAY, 4 Apr. 2024
The Russian police have responded to the terrorist attack, the most lethal in the country in decades, by raiding thousands of construction sites, dormitories, cafes and warehouses that employ and cater to migrants.
—Valerie Hopkins, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The labor force is the total number of people employed and unemployed.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
Nearly 40 years later — though Cohen stepped away from the spotlight, with his last credit being 1991's Perfect Harmony — the two worked together again when Quan was ironing out his contract for Everything Everywhere All at Once, and employed Cohen, now an entertainment lawyer, to represent him.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
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
Noun
Here are the hours of operation: Monday through Thursday from 1 to 8:30 p.m.
Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
How many people will the slide park employ?
—Bridget Fogarty, Journal Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2024
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
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.
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Cite this Entry
“Employ.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/employ. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
employ
1 of 2 verb
em·ploy
im-ˈplȯi 
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
adjective
-ə-bəl
employ
2 of 2 noun
: employment especially for wages or a salary
generous to people in their employ
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