empower

verb

em·​pow·​er im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r 

empowered; empowering; empowers

transitive verb

1

: to give official authority or legal power to

empowered her attorney to act on her behalf

2

: enable sense 1a

… nootropic agents empower the lower amounts of acetylcholine in diseased brains to work overtime …

—Science News

3

: to promote the self-actualization or influence of

The American women's movement has been inspiring and empowering women for nearly 20 years …

—Ron Hansen

Members of our discipline often envision themselves as agents of social change who try to promote critique of dominant ideologies and empower students to become active participants in the larger political world.

—Christy Friend

Synonyms

• accredit
• authorize
• certify
• charter [British]
• commission
• enable
• invest
• license
• licence
• qualify
• vest
• warrant

Examples of empower in a Sentence

seeking changes in the workplace that will empower women

the federal agency empowered to collect taxes

Recent Examples on the Web

While many companies have clear internal policies and guidelines against discrimination in the workplace, not all have nurtured a culture and workplace that empowers employees to be able to bring their full selves to work. —Sander Van 't Noordende, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024

But the novelist also reveals the capacity of tribal identity to sustain and empower families, even amid ongoing struggles. —Joan Gaylord, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Apr. 2024

In late summer 2020, Davis covered the side of a building in Midtown with her Make Waves mural—an empowering image of a Black woman, featuring bold strokes and saturated hues. —Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 2 Apr. 2024

After the initial shock, the University of Florida junior maintained a positive outlook and focusing on her mission to empower young leaders. —Laura Lane, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024

Finally, there’s the badass factor: Being able to bust out a set of from-the-floor push-ups is pretty empowering and can be the ultimate confidence booster. —Christa Sgobba, SELF, 2 Apr. 2024

This past year has been an empowering year for women in music. —Billboard Japan, Billboard, 1 Apr. 2024

This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. —Quora, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024

Through his strategic counsel and meticulous approach, Mr. Lucarelli has empowered entrepreneurs to navigate the complexities of mergers and acquisitions with confidence and clarity, paving the way for sustainable growth and success. —Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

empower

verb

em·​pow·​er im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r 

: to give official authority or legal power to

Legal Definition

empower

transitive verb

em·​pow·​er im-ˈpau̇-ər 

: to give official authority or legal power to

no branch of government should be empowered unilaterally to impose a serious penalty

—L. H. Tribe