"The aim of this article is to analyse the meanings of ‘engagement’ deployed in media and communication journals over the last five years (2016-2020), in 502 articles found through the Web of Science. Through the analysis of their abstracts, supported by Iramuteq software, this research has identified four categories: a) media effects and proximity to behavioural science; b) participation and citizenship perspectives, with links to science studies; c) structures and uses of social media; d) organisational communication. The circulation of engagement, as a concept, presents a multiplicity of meanings involving other theoretical traditions, not always in congruence with audience studies traditions, but which may even revisit certain ‘media effects’ frameworks, for example. Thus, the analysis of this concept in a specific time frame and broader theoretical context helps to understand the struggles around the concept and its different theoretical affiliations. The results highlight the polysemy of the concept, and that there is no preponderance of social media engagement. From the presentation of the results, we discuss their blind-spots and consequences for audience studies." (Abstract)