empower
[em-pou-er]
- 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.
- to enable or permit: Wealth empowered him to live a comfortable life.
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Origin of empower
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
vest, entitle, grant, legitimize, allow, permit, entrust, okay, license, invest, charge, commission, qualify, delegate, sanction, privilege, warrant, accredit, capacitateExamples from the Web for empower
Contemporary Examples
I have often been asked why, as a man, I create films that empower and focus on women.
Empower the performers, encourage education, and above all make safe sex, well, sexy.
Risky Business or None of Your Business? Gay XXX Films and the Condom QuestionAurora Snow
November 1, 2014
They see their concerts as a way to empower women, both musically and socially.
The Sisterhood of Bulletproof Stockings: It’s Ladies’ Night for Hasidic RockersEmily Shire
September 30, 2014
They inconvenience—er, empower—individuals with information to make partisan or ideological purchasing decisions.
The event, hosted by Russell Simmons, was to raise money for the equality movement which seeks to empower women.
Victoria Beckham’s First Date Dress; Rumer Willis Bares Three Nipples at FundraiserThe Fashion Beast Team
June 20, 2014
Historical Examples
In the mean time we are taking the best care in empower of their estates.
The Hour and the ManHarriet Martineau
These conditions would be explained to any envoys whom Jovian might empower to discuss them with the Persian plenipotentiaries.
Never; you have no right, you have no warrant to empower your act.
The Weird of the Wentworths, Vol. 1Johannes Scotus
They also empower the directors to elect a chairman of the board.
Do you all agree to them, and empower me to say so to Mr. Black?
The Little MissisCharlotte Skinner
empower
- to give or delegate power or authority to; authorize
- to give ability to; enable or permit
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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
Word Origin and History for empower
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper