empower
Americanverb (used with object)
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to give 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
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to enable or permit.
Wealth empowered him to live a comfortable life.
verb
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to give or delegate power or authority to; authorize
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to give ability to; enable or permit
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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empowersimple
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empowerssimple
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have empoweredperfect
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has empoweredperfect
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am empoweringprogressive
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are empoweringprogressive
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is empoweringprogressive
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have been empoweringperfect progressive
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has been empoweringperfect progressive
Past
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empoweredsimple
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had empoweredperfect
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was empoweringprogressive
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were empoweringprogressive
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had been empoweringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of empower
Explanation
Empower means "give power or authority to." When you educate children and believe in them, you empower those kids to go after their dreams. Empower might seem like a new word, but it's been around since the 17th century. Today, empower often refers to helping someone realize their abilities and potential, perhaps for the first time. For example, in the 1960s, when women felt like second-class citizens, the women's movement empowered them to stand up and demand their equal rights.
Vocabulary lists containing empower
Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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Michelle Obama's final address as First Lady (2017)
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"Hip-Hop as Culture" and "I Am Somebody"
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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.
Each place must now show how they would use culture to celebrate their town, showcase original storytelling and empower their local communities, as well as attract further investment and visitors.
From BBC • Jul. 9, 2026
Congress, he said, should empower an independent prosecutor to investigate such conflicts.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026
Used wisely, it can free time for family and community, help people learn faster, bridge languages and cultures, assist the elderly, empower the disabled, and give isolated people new ways to participate in civic life.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026
For many in Tappal village, the enterprise has helped empower women, traditionally expected to perform household duties.
From Barron's • Jun. 16, 2026
This new initiative would be composed of American trailblazers in women’s sports who embody and support the secretary and department’s efforts to empower women and girls globally through sport.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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.
