encourage

[ en-kur-ij, -kuhr- ]

See synonyms for encourage on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),en·cour·aged, en·cour·ag·ing.

to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence: His coach encouraged him throughout the marathon race to keep on running.
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.

Origin of encourage

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

Other words for encourage

1	embolden, hearten, reassure
2	urge; support, aid, help

See synonyms for encourage on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for encourage

1	discourage, dishearten

See antonyms for encourage on Thesaurus.com

Other words from encourage

en·cour·ag·er, noun
en·cour·ag·ing·ly, adverb
o·ver·en·cour·age, verb (used with object), o·ver·en·cour·aged, o·ver·en·cour·ag·ing.
pre·en·cour·age, verb (used with object), pre·en·cour·aged, pre·en·cour·ag·ing.
re·en·cour·age, verb (used with object), re·en·cour·aged, re·en·cour·ag·ing.
un·en·cour·aged, adjective
un·en·cour·ag·ing, adjective
well-en·cour·aged, adjective

Words Nearby encourage

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use encourage in a sentence

If we want that to change, then all of us have to encourage our legislators to make funding community policing a priority.
How to Solve the Policing Crisis | Keli Goff | January 5, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
It would definitely be wrong for TLC to encourage us to gawk at these men but their story is worth investigating nonetheless.
Your Husband Is Definitely Gay: TLC’s Painful Portrait of Mormonism | Samantha Allen | January 1, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
That tends to encourage large and small holders alike to consider turning their weakened rubles into other currencies.
Putin Can’t Bully or Bomb a Recession | Daniel Gross | December 16, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
In the eyes of many pro-life advocates, securing rights for pregnant women is one more way to encourage women to stay pregnant.
The Supreme Court Case Uniting Pro-Lifers & Pro-Choicers | Emily Shire | December 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Educated voters will not be allowed to share pens, as the commission said it would encourage them to bring personal pens.
Liberian Senatorial Elections Defy Ebola | Wade Williams | December 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

This and several other things were said by Sieur de Biancourt to encourage his people.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614 | Various
And, incidentally, to encourage retiring and diffident lady interviewers.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894 | Various
Very soon I induced my directors to adopt the view that the railway company must encourage and help the project.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph Tatlow
The King of Portugal was a powerful ruler and anxious for new possessions, yet he did not encourage Magellan.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin | Mary Hazelton Wade
Let us remember that "if we suffer tamely a lawless attack upon our liberty, we encourage it, and involve others in our doom!"
The Eve of the Revolution | Carl Becker

British Dictionary definitions for encourage

encourage

/ (ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ) /

verb(tr)

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

Derived forms of encourage

encouragement, noun
encourager, noun
encouraging, adjective
encouragingly, adverb

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

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