Question

Select the antonym for the following word from the given options:
Engage
A) Employ
B) Hire
C) Remove
D) Decline

Answer 1

Hint: An antonym is a term that has the opposite meaning to another. Each of the two words is the polar opposite of the other. An antonym is a term that has more than one meaning. The nature of the interaction between the opposite meanings distinguishes three types of antonyms. They are gradable antonyms when the two terms have definitions that fall on a continuous spectrum of meaning.

Complete answer:
Engage is defined as occupying or attracting (someone's interest or attention) or participating or becoming involved in. To find the antonym of engage, we need to find the word which means opposite of it.

Let us look at the given options:
A) Employ: This option is incorrect because engage means occupying something whereas to employ someone implies to provide them employment in exchange for money. Thus, these words have no relationship. Employ is not an antonym of engage.
B) Hire: This option is incorrect because the term "hire" refers to the act of employing someone for a wage. It has no relation with the word engage and thus, it is not the antonym of engage.
C) Remove: This is the correct option. To remove something from its current position means to take it away from it. As a result, remove is the polar opposite of engage.
D) Decline: This option is incorrect because decline means to lessen the measure of something, whereas remove should be the antonym of engage.

Thus, the correct answer is Option (C) Remove.

Note: A gradable antonym is one of a pair of words with polar opposite meanings that are separated by a continuous spectrum. Because temperature is such a broad spectrum, hot and cold, two extremes of the spectrum, are gradable antonyms. Heavy vs. light, fat vs. slim, dark vs. light, young vs. old, early vs. late, empty vs. full, dull vs. exciting are some other examples.