empower

[ em-pou-er ]

/ ɛmˈpaʊ ər /

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See synonyms for: empower / empowered / empowering / empowerment 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR empower

1 warrant, commission, license, qualify.

See synonyms for empower on Thesaurus.com

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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

How to use empower in a sentence

A focus on happiness can feel empowering for people, but it won’t materially change their circumstances.
The New Happiness Guru Says It’s OK to Be Unhappy|Fiona Zublin|September 4, 2020|Ozy
Its mission is to “empower women—particularly those underserved by and underrepresented in American media—with the information, community, and tools they need to be equal participants in our democracy.”
The women of Fortune’s 2020 40 Under 40 list|Claire Zillman, reporter|September 2, 2020|Fortune
Content curation to hashtag analysis — knowing what’s buzzing around your brand, what’s trending and can be amplified on, and what resonates best with your audience empowers you to craft your best Instagram posts and please the algorithm, too.
How to optimize for the Instagram algorithm in 2020|Julia Miashkova|August 19, 2020|Search Engine Watch
We want to put this information in the hands of consumers so they are empowered to make purchasing decisions based on credible and comparable data.
A greener and more compassionate apparel industry|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review

What we did is we weakened the doves and we empowered the hawks.
Speak Softly and Carry Big Data (Ep. 395)|Stephen J. Dubner|October 31, 2019|Freakonomics
Keep in mind that this is just the first round of legislation the newly empowered Republicans are planning to unleash.
GOP States’ Hitlist: Abortion, Unions & Hillary|Nancy Kaffer|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A newly empowered McConnell should be able to stand up to Cruz.
Can Obama and a Republican Senate Find Common Ground?|Eleanor Clift|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Empowered, educated women actually marry more than disempowered, less-educated one.
The Real Enemy of Marital Bliss Are Those Most Opposed to Marriage Equality|Jay Michaelson|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For them to be empowered; to be something other than victims of their gender.
Here’s Why You Helpless Tramps Don’t Vote Republican|Elizabeth Stoker Bruenig|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We felt strong and empowered and hugged each other in celebration and recognition of our emotional and physical accomplishments.
Motherless Daughters and Parentless Parents Trek to the Andes to Aid Orphans|Allison Gilbert|August 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Act empowered the Board, before any new railway was opened, to require notice from the railway company.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
There was no American plenipotentiary empowered to make any political compact with the Islanders.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
It also empowered the Board to employ persons for carrying the Act into effect.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
The Act of Incorporation empowered the detectors to take and to administer to their servants an oath of fidelity.
The History of England from the Accession of James II.|Thomas Babington Macaulay
(i) The gazetting of the outstanding regulations empowered by the 1934 and 1953 Amendment Acts.
Report of the Special Committee on Moral Delinquency in Children and Adolescents|Oswald Chettle Mazengarb et al.

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

empower

OTHER WORDS FOR empower

Origin of empower

OTHER WORDS FROM empower

Words related to empower

How to use empower in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for empower