encourage
verb (used with object)
to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence.
was encouraging
-
past progressiveof encourage.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
“She was encouraging, she was warm, she was funny, but the word that I think of is ‘mama.’”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
Iwansyah said the agency had requested additional masks from the provincial government, and was encouraging people to buy their own.
From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026
“The quarter was encouraging, but it does not materially change the long term investment debate,” the analysts write.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
"It was encouraging signs from Belgium," former England defender Matt Upson said on BBC One.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
That was when the government was encouraging families to eat at neighborhood canteens to reduce housework and allow women to work outside the family.
From "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-li Jiang
