encourage

[en-kur-ij, -kuhr-]

See more synonyms for encourage on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), en·cour·aged, en·cour·ag·ing.

to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence: His coach encouraged him throughout the marathon race to keep on running.
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.

Origin of encourage

1400–50; late Middle English encoragen < Anglo-French, Middle French encorag(i)er. See en-¹, courage

Related formsen·cour·ag·er, nounen·cour·ag·ing·ly, adverbo·ver·en·cour·age, verb (used with object), o·ver·en·cour·aged, o·ver·en·cour·ag·ing.pre·en·cour·age, verb (used with object), pre·en·cour·aged, pre·en·cour·ag·ing.re·en·cour·age, verb (used with object), re·en·cour·aged, re·en·cour·ag·ing.un·en·cour·aged, adjectiveun·en·cour·ag·ing, adjectivewell-en·cour·aged, adjective

Synonyms for encourage

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. embolden, hearten, reassure. 2. urge; support, aid, help.

Antonyms for encourage

1. discourage, dishearten.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for encourage

restore, inspire, strengthen, boost, embolden, reassure, hearten, spur, buoy, bolster, subsidize, advocate, develop, invite, support, assist, favor, reinforce, further, aid

Examples from the Web for encourage

Contemporary Examples of encourage

If we want that to change, then all of us have to encourage our legislators to make funding community policing a priority.
How to Solve the Policing Crisis
Keli Goff
January 5, 2015
It would definitely be wrong for TLC to encourage us to gawk at these men but their story is worth investigating nonetheless.
Your Husband Is Definitely Gay: TLC’s Painful Portrait of Mormonism
Samantha Allen
January 1, 2015
That tends to encourage large and small holders alike to consider turning their weakened rubles into other currencies.
Putin Can’t Bully or Bomb a Recession
Daniel Gross
December 16, 2014
In the eyes of many pro-life advocates, securing rights for pregnant women is one more way to encourage women to stay pregnant.
The Supreme Court Case Uniting Pro-Lifers & Pro-Choicers
Emily Shire
December 3, 2014
They all encourage her to spin her atheism into some form of belief.
The Good Wife’s Religion Politics: Voters Have No Faith in Alicia's Atheism
Regina Lizik
November 24, 2014

Historical Examples of encourage

I should think Hester would have more sense than to encourage a boy in his position.
Brave and Bold
Horatio Alger
We should encourage the establishment of American steamship lines.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
We hope he may depend upon that: we encourage him to think he may.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
I beg you will encourage the militia and engage them to continue their exertions.
A Sketch of the Life of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion
William Dobein James
To sympathize with people like that was only to encourage them!
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald

British Dictionary definitions for encourage

encourage

verb (tr)

to inspire (someone) with the courage or confidence (to do something)
to stimulate (something or someone to do something) by approval or help; support

Derived Formsencouragement, nounencourager, nounencouraging, adjectiveencouragingly, adverb

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

Word Origin and History for encourage

early 15c., from Old French encoragier "make strong, hearten," from en- "make, put in" (see en- (1)) + corage (see courage). Related: Encouraged; encouraging.