encourage
Americanverb (used with object)
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to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence.
His coach encouraged him throughout the marathon race to keep on running.
- Antonyms:
- dishearten, discourage
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to stimulate by assistance, approval, etc..
One of the chief duties of a teacher is to encourage students.
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to promote, advance, or foster.
Poverty often encourages crime.
verb
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to inspire (someone) with the courage or confidence (to do something)
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to stimulate (something or someone to do something) by approval or help; support
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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unencouragingadjective
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unencouragedadjective
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overencourageverb (used with object)
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reencourageverb (used with object)
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encouragementnoun
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encouragingadjective
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encouragernoun
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encouraginglyadverb
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preencourageverb (used with object)
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well-encouragedadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has encouragedperfect 3rd person singular
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have encouragedperfect
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has been encouragingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am encouragingprogressive 1st person singular
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are encouragingprogressive
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is encouragingprogressive 3rd person singular
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have been encouragingperfect progressive
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encouragessingular 3rd person
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encouragingparticiple
Past
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had encouragedperfect
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encouragedparticiple
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encouragedsimple
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had been encouragingperfect progressive
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were encouragingprogressive plural
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was encouragingprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
Origin of encourage
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English encoragen, from Anglo-French, Middle French encorag(i)er; see en- 1 ( def. ), courage ( def. )
Explanation
When you encourage someone, you give him or her the courage or confidence to do something, like when you encourage your little brother to play harder by yelling his name from the sidelines of the soccer field. The word encourage comes from the Old French word encoragier, meaning "make strong, hearten." When you encourage the tomato plants in your garden, you water them to promote their growth and health. Encourage can also mean to inspire with hope, like when you encourage your friends to try out for the school play by complimenting their singing and acting talents.
Vocabulary lists containing encourage
Motherlode: A Mother's Day Lexicon
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Body Language: Cor, Cord, Cardio ("Heart")
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Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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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.
“To really have this conversation and encourage people to explore stories that they might not know.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 2026
In his book, he outlines 21 principles designed to encourage cooperation, based on both scientific research and decades of clinical experience.
From Science Daily • Jun. 13, 2026
Bloom says companies should encourage even fully remote workers to work in the office at least once a month, so that they can connect with colleagues and avoid too much isolation.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026
To encourage these benefits, Dr. Barish recommends volunteering as a family and regularly talking with children, beginning at a young age, about kindness, empathy, and understanding other people's feelings and needs.
From Science Daily • Jun. 13, 2026
This did nothing to encourage the ticket buyers, whose numbers dwindled to the single digits by the second night of our weeklong run.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
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.
