empower

[ em-pou-er ]
/ ɛmˈpaʊ ər /
SEE 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.

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Origin of empower

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

OTHER WORDS FROM empower

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

Words nearby empower

empoison, empolder, emporia, emporium, empoverish, empower, empowerment, empress, empressement, emprise, emprosthotonos
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to empower

vest, entitle, grant, legitimize, allow, permit, entrust, okay, license, invest, charge, commission, qualify, delegate, sanction, privilege, warrant, accredit, capacitate

Example sentences from the Web for empower

British Dictionary definitions for empower

empower
/ (ɪmˈpaʊə) /

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