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.
Inside the box, special paper and charcoal dust encouraged the sengis to walk across the surface, leaving clear tracks behind.
From Science Daily
There’s something about the nature of the show that could encourage you to be a bit more light about it, but I think he really took it very seriously.
From Los Angeles Times
Programmes have encouraged civil servants and the public to explore their own country, with subsidised tours in the capital Bamako and the regions.
From Barron's
India had long tried to attract foreign capital by encouraging investments from companies with structures in countries such as Mauritius, Singapore and the Netherlands, signing treaties to help investors avoid paying taxes twice.
From BBC
“Traders were encouraged by reports that Rick Rieder is a leading candidate to replace Jerome Powell as Fed chair,” analysts at ANZ said.
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.
