Synonyms

empower

American

[em-pou-er] / ɛmˈpaʊ ər /

verb (used with object)

to give power pow power or authority to; authorize, especially by legal or official means.

I empowered my agent to make the deal for me. The local ordinance empowers the board of health to close unsanitary restaurants.

Synonyms:

qualify, license, commission, warrant
to enable or permit.

Wealth empowered him to live a comfortable life.

empower British

/ ɪmˈpaʊə /

verb

to give or delegate power or authority to; authorize
to give ability to; enable or permit

"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

empowerment noun
unempowered adjective

Etymology

Origin of empower

First recorded in 1645–55; em- ¹ + power

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.

The path from dictatorship to democracy is fraught, but with the illusion broken and the people empowered, freedom is finally within reach.

From The Wall Street Journal

Jayawardhana said Caltech’s achievements are rooted in its “deceptively simple formula: empowering brilliant minds to explore important questions with imagination and courage and making bold commitments to efforts others might consider too risky or far-fetched.”

From Los Angeles Times

"With the cooking clubs, you're empowering children to have those lifelong skills," Mr Precious explained.

From BBC

Protesters are likely to feel empowered by the U.S. pledge of support.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It’s very empowering to know how to defend yourself — you walk through the world in a different way.”

From Los Angeles Times

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