embolden
Americanverb (used with object)
-
emboldens,
present (3rd person singular)
-
emboldened,
past participle, past
-
emboldening
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
emboldensimple
-
emboldenssimple
-
have emboldenedperfect
-
has emboldenedperfect
-
am emboldeningprogressive
-
are emboldeningprogressive
-
is emboldeningprogressive
-
have been emboldeningperfect progressive
-
has been emboldeningperfect progressive
Past
-
emboldenedsimple
-
had emboldenedperfect
-
was emboldeningprogressive
-
were emboldeningprogressive
-
had been emboldeningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of embolden
Explanation
To embolden someone is to inspire them. You might embolden your brother to try out for a play by enthusiastically praising his singing and dancing abilities. Shy kids sometimes need a friend or a teacher who will embolden them to speak up for themselves, and a good grade in a difficult class will embolden a student to attempt more challenging courses. When you cheer up a friend or encourage a coworker, you embolden those people. To embolden is "to make bold," from the Old English root word beald, which means "brave, confident, or strong."
Vocabulary lists containing embolden
A Thousand Splendid Suns
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This Week in Words: August 21 - 25, 2017
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The Last Lecture
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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:
The restorative-justice circle would embolden the student as he realized his misbehavior would give him further opportunities to get privileged time and attention with no consequences.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Several officials have urged the central bank to weigh rate increases this year, and a strong June jobs report on Thursday could embolden some to press for a hike.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
And compared to previous incidents, the US response to the latest spat "has been muted so far, which may embolden China", said Lin and Govella.
From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2026
The question is whether it will embolden Washington as it seeks effective control of infrastructure assets owned or controlled by Chinese companies.
From Barron's ● Jan. 30, 2026
The public takedown she’d executed on him, if anything, would embolden Toby—make him like her more.
From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss
The pattern is familiar: Elites hesitate to name antisemitism clearly for fear of inflaming tensions, only to discover that ambiguity emboldens extremists rather than restraining them.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 14, 2025
The case appears rather robust, and also emboldens California's similar case.
From BBC ● May 29, 2025
Inaction only emboldens the Truman’s enemies, which in this case include gravity and potentially an octopus, and encourages further mischief.
From Slate ● May 8, 2025
Yossy Arefi, who adds lemon for brightness—it emboldens the earthiness of the carrots.
From Salon ● Apr. 15, 2025
Perhaps it’s the safe feeling that emboldens me.
From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins
Instead, the conflict has emboldened Iran’s leaders and mobilized their supporters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026
Simons said public services "have to get better at recognising patterns of offending" before attackers become "emboldened".
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026
Some staff are asking if that could have emboldened others at the top of the organisation to speak out against him or to even insist he steps down.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
Karim, another would-be migrant turned back, said news of some successful crossings emboldened many to make their own attempt.
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
He tickled back, his hands emboldened, and their laughter filled the air.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
SpaceX’s historic offering in June went surprisingly smoothly despite its giant size, emboldening many companies to push forward with IPOs in the second-half of the year, according to people familiar with the matter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
But that’s what filmmaking is all about: surprising us, emboldening the viewer to the hard, emotionally exhausting things they never thought possible.
From Salon ● May 25, 2026
Over the past week, investors paid particular attention as four out of the “Magnificent Seven” megacap tech stocks reported earnings, with results that spooked some investors while emboldening others.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 2, 2025
Allowing agents to mask indiscriminately doesn’t just protect them; it also risks emboldening them to stretch the boundaries of the law.
From Slate ● Jun. 17, 2025
In thus taking up our stand against what we believe to be wrong, we may be, imperceptibly to ourselves, emboldening others, who are secretly waiting for some such lead.
From Men of the Bible; Some Lesser-Known Characters by George Milligan
Definitions 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.
