empower
verb
em·pow·er
im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r 
empowered; empowering; empowers
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
Science News3
: 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
Ron HansenMembers 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
Christy FriendExamples 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
The Department of Justice is empowered under the federal securities laws to protect the integrity of the American capital markets by enforcing the securities laws and regulations.
—Samidh Guha, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
Longoria was honored with the Maestro Cares Community Hero Award for educating and empowering Latin women through Eva Longoria Foundation (ELF), and Balvin received the Trailblazer of Cultural Empowerment Award for his commitment to raising awareness about mental health.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 8 Nov. 2025
When people see concrete evidence that leadership is investing in their capability–and not just deploying technology for its own sake–they’ll shift from feeling threatened to feeling empowered.
—Feon Ang, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
Through her book, coaching programs, and authentic voice, Keisha Leilani empowers women to embrace their confidence and express themselves fully.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for empower
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Samidh Guha, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
Longoria was honored with the Maestro Cares Community Hero Award for educating and empowering Latin women through Eva Longoria Foundation (ELF), and Balvin received the Trailblazer of Cultural Empowerment Award for his commitment to raising awareness about mental health.
—Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 8 Nov. 2025
When people see concrete evidence that leadership is investing in their capability–and not just deploying technology for its own sake–they’ll shift from feeling threatened to feeling empowered.
—Feon Ang, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
Through her book, coaching programs, and authentic voice, Keisha Leilani empowers women to embrace their confidence and express themselves fully.
—Maria Williams, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for empower
Cite this Entry
“Empower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empower. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
L. H. TribeLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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