Cool MateEmploy vs Hire
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Employ
Top 2,000 (common)A2verb
Hire
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Most common: Hire
| Employ | Hire | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪmˈplɔɪ/","/ɪmˈplɔɪz/","/ɪmˈplɔɪd/","/ɪmˈplɔɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪmˈplɔɪ/","/ɪmˈplɔɪz/","/ɪmˈplɔɪd/","/ɪmˈplɔɪɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhaɪə(r)/","/ˈhaɪəz/","/ˈhaɪəd/","/ˈhaɪərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhaɪər/","/ˈhaɪərz/","/ˈhaɪərd/","/ˈhaɪərɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To use someone in a job or to hire someone. | To pay someone to do a job. |
| Example | The company will employ new strategies to increase sales. | We decided to hire a new employee for the marketing department. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | actively, directly, indirectly, in, be fully employed, be gainfully employed, be permanently employed, commonly, extensively, frequently | by the day, can/can’t afford to, hire and fire, by the day, can/can’t afford to, hire and fire, by the day, week, etc., locally, from |
| Antonyms | fire, dismiss, terminate | dismiss, fire |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'employer' (the person who employs)., Used incorrectly as a noun instead of a verb., Omitted the object: 'He employs' without specifying someone. | 'Hired' as a noun instead of a verb., Confusing 'hire' with 'borrow'., Not using the right preposition, e.g., 'hire for' instead of 'hire to'. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in business contexts. Not appropriate in casual conversations when referring to hiring friends or family. Use 'hire' in less formal situations. | Used in both formal and informal contexts. Suitable for job-related discussions but less appropriate for casual conversations unless referring to a personal task. |
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Frequently asked questions: Employ vs Hire
What's the difference between Employ and Hire?
Employ: To use someone in a job or to hire someone. Hire: To pay someone to do a job.
Which is more common: Employ and Hire?
Hire is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Employ and Hire?
Hire is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Employ and Hire the same CEFR level?
Employ: A2, Hire: B1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Employ and Hire?
Employ: verb, Hire: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Employ: The company will employ new strategies to increase sales. Hire: We decided to hire a new employee for the marketing department.
Can I use Employ and Hire interchangeably?
Not always. Employ and Hire are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.