empower

verb em·pow·er \ im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r \

Definition of empower

transitive verb

1 :to give official authority or legal power to

empowered her attorney to act on her behalf

2 :enable 1a

3 :to promote the self-actualization or influence of

women's movement has been inspiring and empowering women
—Ron Hansen

—

empowerment

play \im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r-mənt\ noun

See empower defined for English-language learners

See empower defined for kids

Examples of empower in a Sentence

seeking changes in the workplace that will empower women
the federal agency empowered to collect taxes

Recent Examples of empower from the Web

Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran, who is empowered to fine former lawmakers, has taken no steps to impose it.

— patricia mazzei, miamiherald, "Prosecutors had 5 years to charge ex-U.S. Rep. David Rivera. Now time has run out.," 29 Aug. 2017
Aldiss, along with J.G. Ballard, Kurt Vonnegut and others, was in the vanguard of writers who invoked science fiction to fathom a modern world that humans for the first time were empowered to destroy.

— seattle times staff & news services, The Seattle Times, "The week’s passages," 25 Aug. 2017
To which Damore replied: Damore: There were many women who were empowered and that agree with me.

— claire landsbaum, The Cut, "Guy Who Wrote Sexist Google Memo Says It Made Women Feel ‘Empowered’," 18 Aug. 2017
Burton empowers people who’ve been in jail to be part of reforming the criminal justice system.

— julia herbst, Los Angeles Magazine, "11 Women Who Are Making L.A. a Better Place," 17 Aug. 2017
In addition, states have been empowered to cut Title X family planning programs.

— anna gorman, Kaiser Health News, "Often Missing In The Health Care Debate: Women’s Voices," 17 Aug. 2017
Other cultural explanations also empowered people to bring back the light.

— sarah scoles, Discover Magazine, "Eclipse 2017: Mind Melt," 7 Aug. 2017
And McMaster has clearly been empowered to make personnel decisions.

— rosie gray, The Atlantic, "The War Against H.R. McMaster," 4 Aug. 2017
Globally, their teams in Asia, Africa, and Latin America have provided more than 1 million people with clean water, built 1,000 schools and schoolrooms overseas, and empowered more than 200,000 children with access to education.

— Good Housekeeping, "The Good Housekeeping Humanitarian Seal: Frequently Asked Questions," 4 Aug. 2017

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.

First Known Use of empower

1648

empower Synonyms

Synonyms

accredit, certify, charter [British], commission, authorize, enable, invest, license (also licence), qualify, vest, warrant

Antonyms

disqualify

Related Words

approve, clear, credential, endorse (also indorse), OK (or okay), sanction; affirm, confirm, validate; inaugurate, induct, initiate, install, instate, swear in; allow, let, permit; enfranchise, entitle, privilege

Near Antonyms

ban, bar, block, constrain, deny, disallow, disbar, discourage, disenfranchise, disfranchise, exclude, hinder, hold back, impede, inhibit, obstruct, prevent, shut out, stop; enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prohibit, proscribe, veto

EMPOWER Defined for English Language Learners

empower

verb

Definition of empower for English Language Learners

: to give power to (someone)
: to give official authority or legal power to (someone)

EMPOWER Defined for Kids

empower

verb em·pow·er \ im-ˈpau̇-ər \

Definition of empower for Students

empowered; empowering

:to give authority or legal power to

She empowered her lawyer to act on her behalf.

Law Dictionary

empower

transitive verb em·pow·er \ im-ˈpau̇-ər \

legal Definition of empower

:to give official authority or legal power to

no branch of government should be empowered unilaterally to impose a serious penalty
—L. H. Tribe

Learn More about empower

See words that rhyme with empower Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for empower Spanish Central: Translation of empower Nglish: Translation of empower for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of empower for Arabic speakers

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empower

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empowerment

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Examples of empower in a Sentence

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First Known Use of empower

empower Synonyms

Synonyms

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EMPOWER Defined for English Language Learners

empower

Definition of empower for English Language Learners

EMPOWER Defined for Kids

empower

Definition of empower for Students

Law Dictionary

empower

legal Definition of empower

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