encourage
Americanverb (used with object)
-
encourages,
present (3rd person singular)
-
encouraged,
past participle, past
-
encouraging
present participle
-
to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence.
His coach encouraged him throughout the marathon race to keep on running.
- Antonyms:
- dishearten, discourage
-
to stimulate by assistance, approval, etc..
One of the chief duties of a teacher is to encourage students.
-
to promote, advance, or foster.
Poverty often encourages crime.
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
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
encouragementnoun
-
encouragernoun
-
overencourageverb (used with object)
-
preencourageverb (used with object)
-
reencourageverb (used with object)
-
encouragingadjective
-
unencouragedadjective
-
unencouragingadjective
-
well-encouragedadjective
-
encouraginglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
encouragesimple
-
encouragessimple
-
have encouragedperfect
-
has encouragedperfect
-
am encouragingprogressive
-
are encouragingprogressive
-
is encouragingprogressive
-
have been encouragingperfect progressive
-
has been encouragingperfect progressive
Past
-
encouragedsimple
-
had encouragedperfect
-
was encouragingprogressive
-
were encouragingprogressive
-
had been encouragingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of encourage
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English encoragen, from Anglo-French, Middle French encorag(i)er; see en- 1 ( def. ), courage ( def. )
Explanation
When you encourage someone, you give him or her the courage or confidence to do something, like when you encourage your little brother to play harder by yelling his name from the sidelines of the soccer field. The word encourage comes from the Old French word encoragier, meaning "make strong, hearten." When you encourage the tomato plants in your garden, you water them to promote their growth and health. Encourage can also mean to inspire with hope, like when you encourage your friends to try out for the school play by complimenting their singing and acting talents.
Vocabulary lists containing encourage
Motherlode: A Mother's Day Lexicon
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Body Language: Cor, Cord, Cardio ("Heart")
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A few months earlier, the City Commission had passed Resolution 5844, the “Welcoming City” resolution, to encourage immigrants to move to the community.
From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026
Flav’s note echoes the message Valkyries stars Veronica Burton and Kiah Stokes sent after Monday’s win to encourage their fans to tune in to Game 6.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
“We encourage adventure at 20,” Gratton says, “but we discourage it at 40 and 50.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
But I would encourage your readers to think about crypto less as an alternative asset and ultimately as new architecture.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 27, 2026
She was trying to encourage you to find your place.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Instead of functioning as the battery's final protective barrier, the MXene acts as a foundation that encourages a stronger protective layer to develop during operation.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026
It encourages the public to report suspected waste crime to its incident hotline or via its website.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026
His supporters have also embraced a nonpartisan social-media campaign called “Vovó Vota,” or “Grandma Votes,” which encourages young people to take their grandparents to vote.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2026
“Women’s volleyball is getting so much attention and I love it because it encourages all of the younger players to keep doing it,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2026
Theo tells him it’s too dark, and once again encourages Vincent to lighten up.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
In recent years, the country has also encouraged the use of compressed natural gas to power vehicles, with natural gas plants and filling stations set up mostly in the largest city, Dar es Salaam.
From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026
Since then, Goblikon has become a fully fleshed-out character and the host of the purportedly No. 1 podcast “Right Now With John Goblikon,” a fact Goblikon encouraged me not to double-check.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
He has also encouraged Republicans to vote by mail in the midterms and has said he has cast his ballot by post in the past.
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026
He had a religious streak encouraged by his mother and father, the latter a preacher of the gospel to peyote-friendly Native Americans.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
Stalin and the Communist Party encouraged ambitious designers, daring pilots, and mechanical experts to create an industry that was exemplary throughout the world.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
But I can’t recall a flight where I didn’t observe passengers encouraging others to de-board before themselves, and I doubt it happens out of an eagerness to remain aboard a cramped aircraft.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
This loss means encouraging performances from Duckett and Overton will be forgotten.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026
"Sometimes we have to curtail certain solar power plants to maintain the stability of the system. That is why some people have the perception that the government is not encouraging solar power," Karunathilaka said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026
The researchers say larger clinical trials will be essential to confirm the encouraging results in patients with severe hypertension and identify which groups, if any, could benefit most from this approach.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 24, 2026
“Cole McAllister, you are encouraging your son to risk his life,” Aunt Pretty declared as I finished writing down Cully’s story.
From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
