encourage
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence.
His coach encouraged him throughout the marathon race to keep on running.
- Antonyms:
- dishearten, discourage
-
to stimulate by assistance, approval, etc..
One of the chief duties of a teacher is to encourage students.
-
to promote, advance, or foster.
Poverty often encourages crime.
verb
-
to inspire (someone) with the courage or confidence (to do something)
-
to stimulate (something or someone to do something) by approval or help; support
Other Word Forms
- encouragement noun
- encourager noun
- encouraging adjective
- encouragingly adverb
- overencourage verb (used with object)
- preencourage verb (used with object)
- reencourage verb (used with object)
- unencouraged adjective
- unencouraging adjective
- well-encouraged adjective
Etymology
Origin of encourage
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English encoragen, from Anglo-French, Middle French encorag(i)er; en- 1 ( def. ), courage ( def. )
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.
This, in turn, improves their reputations, which can help reduce project delays and encourage investment.
From Salon • Apr. 7, 2026
Instead of erecting burdensome bureaucratic roadblocks that would stifle progress, we should encourage responsible innovation that serves human dignity and the common good.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
“This gift is going to help reduce that debt and then encourage relationships between students who are trained in that area to then go back and work in that area.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026
"This is a home issue too. Schools have to be careful about not telling parents what to do but we can encourage them."
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
“I love seeing people get involved in their community. I always try to encourage that in my work.”
From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser
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.
