employ

word

/ɛmˈpɫɔɪ/
em-PLOY
/ɛmplˈɔɪ/
em-PLOY

Definition

To give someone a job or work to do; also, to use something for a particular purpose.

Usage & Nuances

More formal than 'hire' when speaking about jobs; common in business and legal contexts. 'Employ' can refer to both people ('employ a manager') and methods/items ('employ a new strategy'). Not to be confused with 'employee' (the person who works).

Example Sentences

You need to employ more effective methods.

basic

We employ the latest technology in our products.

natural

She was employed for her language skills.

natural

To solve the problem, we employed a different approach.

natural

The company employs 200 workers.

basic

They employed a new manager last year.

basic