encouragement
Americannoun
-
the act of encouraging.
-
the state of being encouraged.
-
something that encourages.
Praise is the greatest encouragement.
- Synonyms:
- endorsement, lift, boost, support, praise
Other Word Forms
- preencouragement noun
- reencouragement noun
Etymology
Origin of encouragement
Explanation
When you help someone by offering positive words of support and approval, that's encouragement. It must have been the words of encouragement you gave in the airport lounge that helped your friend board the plane. Within the word encouragement we see the word "courage," which means the ability to face danger and deal with it. To encourage, then, is to help develop that ability in someone, while the "ment" at the end makes that development into a noun, the act of giving courage or support to another. You needed a little encouragement to try horse riding again, after your injuries healed.
Vocabulary lists containing encouragement
Catching Fire
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"Refugees Find New Lives"
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Taste of Salt
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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.
“Jimmy needed permission and encouragement from someone to say, ‘All right, it’s time,’” Segel says.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
Oil prices eased in subdued Easter holiday trading as investors took encouragement from news of some tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026
Watching from ringside was pound-for-pound star Claressa Shields, shouting encouragement for Dubois.
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
Birol said recommendations from the agency to member countries have included encouragement of working from home, reducing speed limits for cars and providing financial support to vulnerable people.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
Mr. Lew closed his eyes for a fraction of a second, an almost imperceptible nod of encouragement.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
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.
