Synonyms

encourage

American

[en-kur-ij, -kuhr-] / ɛnˈkɜr ɪdʒ, -ˈkʌr- /

verb (used with object)

encouraged, encouraging

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
to stimulate by assistance, approval, etc..

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

Synonyms:

help, aid, support, urge
to promote, advance, or foster.

Poverty often encourages crime.

encourage British

/ ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ /

verb

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

encouragement noun
encourager noun
encouraging adjective
encouragingly adverb
overencourage verb (used with object)
preencourage verb (used with object)
reencourage verb (used with object)
unencouraged adjective
unencouraging adjective
well-encouraged adjective

Etymology

Origin of encourage

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

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023