encourage
[ en-kur-ij, -kuhr- ]
/ ɛnˈkɜr ɪdʒ, -ˈkʌr- /
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.
RELATED CONTENT
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
- encopresis,
- encore,
- encounter,
- encounter group,
- encounter session,
- encouragement,
- encouraging,
- encrimson,
- encrinite,
- encroach
Origin of encourage
SYNONYMS FOR encourage
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for encouraging
encourage
/ (ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ) /
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
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
encourage
early 15c., from Old French encoragier "make strong, hearten," from en- "make, put in" (see en- (1)) + corage (see courage). Related: Encouraged; encouraging.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper