employ
gb/ɪmplˈɔɪ/ us/ɪmplˈɔɪ/
A2
English
~ 1300
alkalmaz, felvesz, foglalkoztat, alkalmazás, használ, felhasznál, felhasználás, használat, munkaviszony
VERB
A2
1
Usage pattern:
to employ [someone] as [a job]
The company plans to employ 50 new workers this year.
A cég idén 50 új dolgozót tervez felvenni.
We decided to employ her as our office manager.
Úgy döntöttünk, hogy irodavezetőként alkalmazzuk.
Many factories in the area employ migrant labor.
Learner examples
My father employs ten people in his shop.
Apám tíz embert foglalkoztat az üzletében.
They employ a new teacher every year.
Minden évben felvesznek egy új tanárt.
The hotel employs many students in the summer.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'employ' with 'apply'. 'Employ' means to give someone a job, not to ask for one.
Meaning
Hire someone for a job
Collocations
employ staff
|employ workers
|employ a manager
|employ skilled labor
Synonyms
hire (More common in everyday speech; 'employ' is slightly more formal.)
Antonyms
fire (Means to remove someone from their job, the opposite of hiring.)
Themes
business
|work
|employment
Definition
To pay someone to do a job for you.
To give work to someone and pay them for it.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
to employ [a method/technique/tool]
The teacher employed several new techniques to help the students learn.
A tanár több új módszert alkalmazott, hogy segítsen a diákoknak tanulni.
We must employ all available resources to complete the project on time.
A projekt időben való befejezéséhez minden rendelkezésre álló erőforrást fel kell használnunk.
The artist employed bright colors to create a cheerful mood.
Learner examples
He employed a new way to fix the car.
Új módszert alkalmazott az autó megjavítására.
We employed a map to find the park.
Térképet használtunk, hogy megtaláljuk a parkot.
She employed her skills to make the cake.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'employ' instead of simpler 'use' in informal contexts, making speech sound unnatural.
Meaning
Use something effectively
Collocations
employ a strategy
|employ force
|employ technology
Synonyms
use ('Use' is more common and general; 'employ' is more formal or deliberate.)
Antonyms
ignore (To not make use of something when it could be used.)
Themes
general
|methods
|problem-solving
|core_vocabulary
|work
Definition
To use something like a plan, skill, or tool to do something.
To make use of something, such as a method, skill, or tool, for a particular purpose.
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
3
alkalmazás
B2
munkaviszony
B2
She has been in the company's employ for over ten years.
Több mint tíz éve áll a cég alkalmazásában.
During his employ at the firm, he developed several successful projects.
A cégnél töltött munkaviszonya alatt több sikeres projektet dolgozott ki.
Few people remain in the long-term employ of one organization today.
Learner examples
He is in the employ of a bank.
Egy bank alkalmazásában áll.
She stayed in their employ for five years.
Öt évig maradt az alkalmazásukban.
I was in his employ last year.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this rare noun form with the verb form; it's mostly used in formal or legal contexts.
Meaning
State of being employed by someone
Collocations
in someone's employ
|remain in employ
Synonyms
employment ('Employment' is more common; 'employ' as a noun is rare and formal.)
Antonyms
unemployment (The state of not having paid work.)
Themes
business
|work
Definition
The state of working for someone and getting paid.
The condition of being paid to work for someone.
Grammar
Dictionary form
employ
IPA
GB/ɪmplˈɔɪ/
US/ɪmplˈɔɪ/
Syllables & stress
em - ploy (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ploy)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: employ
- 3rd Person Singular: employs
- Present Participle: employing
- Past: employed
Word family
Forms
employs
verb
employing
verb
employed
verb
Core family
Related words
employable
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unemployed
adjective B1
unemployment
noun B1
Advanced or less common
employability
noun
Expressions
gainful employment
1/ɡˈeɪnfəl ɪmplˈɔɪmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
Paid work that provides income
A job that pays you enough to live on.
Examples
- After months of searching, he finally found gainful employment.
- Many graduates struggle to secure gainful employment after college.
in someone's employ
1/ˈɪn sˈʌmwˌʌnz ɪmplˈɔɪ/
fixed phrase
formal
Working for someone
Working for and being paid by someone.
Examples
- She has been in the company's employ for over a decade.
- During his time in their employ, he learned valuable skills.