To employ means to use something for a particular purpose or to hire someone to do work. When you employ a strategy in chess, you're putting that approach into action. When a detective employs careful observation to solve a mystery, she's using that skill as a tool.

The word appears most often when talking about work and jobs. A company employs people by hiring them and paying them to do specific tasks. Someone who works for a company is an employee, and the company itself is the employer. When your neighbor employs a babysitter, they're hiring someone to watch their children.

Notice that employ suggests purposeful use rather than random action. You don't just grab any tool from the toolbox: you employ the right one for the job. A builder might employ a level to make sure a shelf is straight. A writer might employ vivid descriptions to help readers picture a scene. A negotiator might employ patience and careful listening to reach an agreement.

The word carries a sense of deliberate choice and control. When you employ your time wisely, you're making conscious decisions about how to use it. When a general employs tactics in battle, those strategies have been chosen carefully for their effectiveness.