employ
B1 (High frequency)Formal to neutral. It is the standard formal verb for 'to give someone a job'. In informal contexts, 'hire' (US) or 'take on' (UK) is often preferred for the recruitment sense.
Definition
Meaning
To give somebody a job to do and pay them for it; to engage the services of someone.
To make use of something (e.g., a method, tool, strategy, or skill) for a specific purpose; to keep somebody occupied or busy.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a transitive verb. In its core 'job' sense, it implies a formal, often contractual, relationship. In its 'use' sense, it is more formal than 'use' and often implies a deliberate, skillful, or strategic application. The noun forms are 'employer', 'employee', and 'employment'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the 'job' sense, AmE tends to use 'hire' more frequently in everyday speech for the act of bringing someone into a job (e.g., 'We hired a new manager'). BrE uses 'take on' informally but retains 'employ' in more formal contexts. 'Employ' is standard in both for the state of having people on staff.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'employ' carries connotations of formality and official capacity. In AmE, 'hire' can sound more direct and action-oriented for recruitment.
Frequency
'Employ' is more frequent in written and formal contexts in both varieties. In casual speech about recruitment, AmE shows a stronger preference for 'hire'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[S] employ [O] (e.g., The firm employs 200 people.)[S] employ [O] as [C] (e.g., She was employed as a consultant.)[S] employ [O] to-inf (e.g., A lawyer was employed to handle the case.)[S] employ [O] in/for [X] (e.g., He employs his skills in charity work.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in the employ of (sb/sth) (formal: working for)”
- “employ every trick in the book (use every possible method)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Standard term in HR, reports, and corporate communication. 'The company employs over 5,000 globally.'
Academic
Used to describe the application of theories, methodologies, or frameworks. 'The study employs a mixed-methods approach.'
Everyday
Less common in casual chat about jobs ('My mate got a new job'), but used in more formal discussions. 'They employ a cleaner twice a week.'
Technical
Used in computing and engineering (e.g., 'The algorithm employs a neural network.') and law ('employed under contract').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The council plans to employ more social workers.
- She skilfully employed humour to defuse the tension.
- He hasn't been employed since the factory closed.
American English
- The startup intends to employ 50 engineers this year.
- The author employs a complex narrative structure.
- They were employed as contractors for the project.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb directly from 'employ'. Related: 'employably' is extremely rare and not used.)
American English
- (No standard adverb directly from 'employ'.)
adjective
British English
- This is not an employable skill in the current market. (Note: 'employable' is the adjective from 'employ')
American English
- The training made him more employable. (Note: 'employable' is the adjective from 'employ')
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The shop employs three people.
- Can you employ this key to open the door? (Highlighting over-formality as a teaching point).
- The company employs over 200 staff at its London office.
- He employed a new strategy to solve the maths problem.
- Despite her qualifications, she found herself unemployable in the specialised field.
- The film employs flashbacks to reveal the character's past.
- The government is employing fiscal measures to curb inflation.
- The research employs a novel methodology that challenges existing paradigms.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PLOT (from the 'ploy' sound). To EMPLOY someone is to bring them into your PLOT or plan for the business.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEOPLE ARE TOOLS/RESOURCES (when referring to employment); USING IS DIRECTING/CONTROLLING (when referring to applying a method).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating the 'use' sense of 'employ' directly as 'использовать' in all contexts; it can sound overly formal where 'use' is better. For example, 'I used a pen' is NOT 'I employed a pen'.
- Do not confuse 'employ' with 'imploi' or other false friends. The Russian word 'работать' is 'to work', not 'to employ'. 'To employ' is 'нанимать на работу' or 'предоставлять работу'.
- The noun 'employment' (занятость, работа) is broader than just 'a job' (конкретная должность).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *'They employed me like a waiter.' (Correct: 'They employed me as a waiter.')
- Incorrect: *'I will employ this knife to cut.' (Overly formal/awkward; use 'use').
- Incorrect: *'He is employed in a bank.' (Acceptable but less common than 'He works at a bank.' or 'He is employed by a bank.')
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'employ' in its core meaning related to jobs?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Employ' is the general, formal term for having someone on your payroll. 'Hire' (AmE common, BrE increasing) focuses on the act of bringing someone into a job. 'Recruit' emphasises the process of seeking and attracting candidates, often for specific skills.
Yes, but this is a more formal use meaning 'to use'. It is appropriate for methods, strategies, techniques, or tools, especially when their use is deliberate and skillful (e.g., 'employ a metaphor', 'employ a software tool'). It sounds odd for everyday objects ('employ a spoon').
Yes. 'Self-employed' is an adjective meaning working for oneself as a freelancer or business owner, not for an employer. It derives from the verb 'employ'.
The key nouns are: 1) Employer (the person/company that employs). 2) Employee (the person who is employed). 3) Employment (the state of having a paid job; or the act of employing).
Collections
Part of a collection
Work and Jobs
A2 · 49 words · Jobs, professions and the world of work.