empower

verb

em·pow·er | \im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r

empowered; empowering; empowers

Definition of empower

1 : to give official authority or legal power to empowered her attorney to act on her behalf

3 : to promote the self-actualization or influence of women's movement has been inspiring and empowering women— Ron Hansen

Other Words from empower Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about empower

Keep scrolling for more

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

Using lab tools to activate that reward circuit in mice, scientists discovered that its chemical signals reach the immune system, empowering a subset of bone marrow cells to slow the growth of tumors. — Esther Landhuis, Scientific American, "Could Brain Stimulation Slow Cancer?," 13 July 2018 Started in 1992 to obtain agricultural work visas for sugarcane cutters and farm workers, the Guatemalan-Maya Center now serves as a nonprofit organization assisting, educating and empowering immigrant communities. — Yutao Chen, Sun-Sentinel.com, "For detained immigrant children: pillows stuffed with love," 13 July 2018 Controlling a hurricane Count on Ariana to also control the elements and use a force of nature in this empowering video. — Lauren Rearick, Teen Vogue, "Ariana Grande's "God Is a Woman" Music Video Is Full of Vagina References," 13 July 2018 But patients that ill are often cared for, not in hospitals, but in nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities—and those institutions tend not to hire or empower the sharp-eyed infection-prevention practitioners that hospitals do. — Maryn Mckenna, WIRED, "The Strange and Curious Case of the Deadly Superbug Yeast," 13 July 2018 Collins said the commission’s recommendations to the Legislature will focus on turning certain fire codes into statutes, increasing the penalties, and empowering law enforcement to prosecute violators. — Marek Mazurek, BostonGlobe.com, "Late Boston firefighters’ families urge tough fire laws," 12 July 2018 Gilpin has been open about how her role — which requires her to do her own wrestling stunts — has both changed her relationship with her body and empowered her overall. — Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, "'GLOW' Team on Emmy Noms: Female-Led Shows Are "Not a Trend"," 12 July 2018 Meier worries that Tennessee’s law might have the unintended consequence of empowering batterers who are taken to court for legitimate reasons, such as harming the children or not paying child support. — Sheila Burke, The Seattle Times, "New state law seeks to stop ‘stalking by way of the courts’," 25 June 2018 Still, in conversations with political allies, Obama insists that today’s domestic mess is a blip on the long arc of history and argues that his own work must be focused on progress over time — specifically on empowering a new generation of leaders. — Gabriel Debenedetti, Daily Intelligencer, "Where Is Barack Obama?," 24 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'empower.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.