encourage

[ en-kur-ij, -kuhr- ]

verb (used with object)

, en·cour·aged, en·cour·ag·ing.

1. to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence:

   His coach encouraged him throughout the marathon race to keep on running.

   Synonyms: reassure, hearten, embolden

   Antonyms: dishearten, discourage

2. to stimulate by assistance, approval, etc.:

   One of the chief duties of a teacher is to encourage students.

   Synonyms: help, aid, support, urge

3. to promote, advance, or foster:

   Poverty often encourages crime.

encourage

/ ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ /

verb

1. to inspire (someone) with the courage or confidence (to do something)
2. to stimulate (something or someone to do something) by approval or help; support

Derived Forms

• enˈcouragingly, adverb
• enˈcouragement, noun
• enˈcouraging, adjective
• enˈcourager, noun

Other Words From

• en·courag·er noun
• en·courag·ing·ly adverb
• over·en·courage verb (used with object) overencouraged overencouraging
• preen·courage verb (used with object) preencouraged preencouraging
• reen·courage verb (used with object) reencouraged reencouraging
• unen·couraged adjective
• unen·courag·ing adjective
• well-en·couraged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of encourage¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English encoragen, from Anglo-French, Middle French encorag(i)er; en- ¹( def ), courage ( def )

Example Sentences

In this way, we encourage civic engagement and make climate adaptation both tangible and motivating.

From Science Daily

The authors encourage researchers to include both sexes equally when possible, analyze data for males and females separately, and re-evaluate past studies that underrepresented females.

From Science Daily

The Sheriff’s Department said in a statement that the ruling wouldn’t affect its ongoing efforts to investigate “allegations of law enforcement gang activity” and that officials “encourage” deputies to “engage with” oversight bodies.

From Los Angeles Times

Next, Biden should encourage Congress to retake some of the constitutional authority over tariffs that the legislative branch delegated to the president during much of the 20th century, when everyone assumed that the president wouldn’t abuse such power — an assumption that the first Trump administration proved incorrect.

From Los Angeles Times

I always feel that these women are a huge responsibility to take on to play because I know that they speak to so many of us and that they’re, in a way, to encourage us to be as much of ourselves as we possibly can be and to fight for that.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• advocate
• aid
• assist
• bolster
• boost
• develop
• ease
• favor
• further
• improve
• invite
• promote
• reassure
• reinforce
• spur
• strengthen
• subsidize
• support