empower

[em-pou-er]

See more synonyms for empower on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

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.

Origin of empower

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

Related formsem·pow·er·ment, nounun·em·pow·ered, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. warrant, commission, license, qualify.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples 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.
A Rallying Cry Against the Oversexualization of Our Youth
Darryl Roberts
November 30, 2014
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 Question
Aurora 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 Rockers
Emily Shire
September 30, 2014
They inconvenience—er, empower—individuals with information to make partisan or ideological purchasing decisions.
The Awful Apps That Let You Vote With Your Wallet
Tim Mak
August 22, 2014
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 Fundraiser
The 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 Man
Harriet Martineau
These conditions would be explained to any envoys whom Jovian might empower to discuss them with the Persian plenipotentiaries.
The Seven Great Monarchies Of The Ancient Eastern World, Vol 7. (of 7): The Sassanian or New Persian Empire
George Rawlinson
Never; you have no right, you have no warrant to empower your act.
The Weird of the Wentworths, Vol. 1
Johannes Scotus
They also empower the directors to elect a chairman of the board.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 5
Various
Do you all agree to them, and empower me to say so to Mr. Black?
The Little Missis
Charlotte Skinner

British Dictionary definitions for empower

empower

verb (tr)

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

Word Origin and History for empower

v.

1650s, used by Milton, but the modern popularity dates from 1986; from en- (1) + power. Related: Empowered; empowering; empowerment.

empower

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}empower

Synonyms

Related Words

Examples 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.

They see their concerts as a way to empower women, both musically and socially.

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.

Historical Examples

In the mean time we are taking the best care in empower of their estates.

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.

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?

empower

Word Origin and History for empower

v.

Origin of empower