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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encouragementnoun
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encouragernoun
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overencourageverb (used with object)
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preencourageverb (used with object)
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reencourageverb (used with object)
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encouragingadjective
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unencouragedadjective
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unencouragingadjective
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well-encouragedadjective
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encouraginglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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encouragesimple
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encouragessimple
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have encouragedperfect
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has encouragedperfect
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am encouragingprogressive
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are encouragingprogressive
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is encouragingprogressive
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have been encouragingperfect progressive
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has been encouragingperfect progressive
Past
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encouragedsimple
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had encouragedperfect
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was encouragingprogressive
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were encouragingprogressive
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had been encouragingperfect progressive
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.
See Examples For:
We encourage all readers to speak with their physicians, their local organ procurement organizations and their families about organ donation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
She said that, in addition to delivering against the set of actions, the plan aims to encourage "positive dialogue around women's health and wellbeing within our health and social care system and in our society".
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
You could encourage her to distribute any items of sentimental value now, but from what you say, after her house is sold there will be very little left.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
Programs that encourage employees or customers to adopt greener habits do not appear to weaken support for broader climate action.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026
Each morning Beetle started the fire, blowing on the night’s embers to encourage them to light the new day’s scraps.
From "The Midwife's Apprentice" by Karen Cushman
Its main tool to achieve this is the economy's key interest rate -- raising rates tends to curtail economic activity and high prices, while lowering them encourages hiring and investment but can also stoke inflation.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
Speaking at the Time 100 Sports gala, LeBron James expresses gratitude to USC staff members who saved Bronny after 2023 cardiac arrest and encourages others to be prepared for such emergencies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
The scarcity of extreme first-day pops on IPOs encourages Lamont that speculative euphoria may be absent at present.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
The incident prompted the town to implement a program that encourages residents to request police-welfare checks for missing or vulnerable neighbors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
Second, it encourages a healthy fear of humans—discouraging the cubs from wandering onto farms and being shot by farmers protecting their livelihoods.
From "Camp Panda" by Catherine Thimmesh
The discovery encouraged astronomers to expand their searches beyond galactic cores.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026
Day laborers crowded around notepads during the discussions, encouraged to openly debate on what they need to ensure their own safety while seeking work.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
Beijing has encouraged chip companies, including Huawei, to license their workarounds and technology so that they could learn from each other, people familiar with the matter said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
A relaxed Anthony Joshua laughed with reporters, thanked fans for making the trip and even encouraged a sizeable Albanian contingent to bring their "energy" for the British heavyweight's comeback fight in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
The Duke and Duchess played many themselves, and they also encouraged their servants to come up with ideas of their own.
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
Beijing is encouraging wealthy entrepreneurs to invest overseas via closed-loop systems that keep the life of the investment under state oversight.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Alexander told The Times that two of the California Voter Foundation’s 10 recommendations — providing election officials with more funding and encouraging voters to cast ballots earlier or in person — are already underway.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
If his mother were still alive today, he says, she would be out on the streets, encouraging every eligible American to exercise their right to vote, in spite of Callais.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
A spokesperson for the Department for the Economy said Tourism NI supported an "inclusive tourism sector by encouraging accommodation providers to consider the diverse needs of visitors".
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Jay nips her ear as if he's encouraging her, and she finally speaks.
From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman
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.
