encourage
verb (used with object)
to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence.
has been encouraging
-
present perfect progressiveof encourage (3rd person singular).present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
Demand for listings has been encouraging since the start of the year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
With that in mind, it was not just Brook's performance that has been encouraging so far.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
Smith’s recent recovery progress, since shutting down baseball activities and receiving an injection to address the discomfort and inflammation, has been encouraging enough for the team to feel confident in his return.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
Plus, China has been encouraging investment in its stock market rather than real estate, which is still reeling from speculative excesses and Beijing’s crackdown.
From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026
“I know Chicho has been encouraging you. But artists are always poor. You don’t want to be poor, do you?”
From "Lucky Broken Girl" by Ruth Behar
