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
Nine officials are to take part in the talks, including Zelenskyy's chief of staff Andrii Yermak and top envoy Rustem Umerov, according to a statement posted on the Ukrainian presidency's website, which also stated that the negotiators are empowered to deal directly with Russia.
—Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2025
He was empowered by those politics, and in part this is the story of his disempowerment.
—Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Controversial pacts spread across USA Named for Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the statute empowers local law enforcement agencies to perform certain federal immigration functions, including holding individuals in local jails until ICE takes custody.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
Nine officials are to take part in the talks, including Zelenskyy's chief of staff Andrii Yermak and Umerov, according to a statement posted on the Ukrainian presidency's website, which also stated that the negotiators are empowered to deal directly with Russia.
—CBS News, 22 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for empower
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Arkansas Online, 23 Nov. 2025
He was empowered by those politics, and in part this is the story of his disempowerment.
—Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Controversial pacts spread across USA Named for Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the statute empowers local law enforcement agencies to perform certain federal immigration functions, including holding individuals in local jails until ICE takes custody.
—Rick Jervis, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025
Nine officials are to take part in the talks, including Zelenskyy's chief of staff Andrii Yermak and Umerov, according to a statement posted on the Ukrainian presidency's website, which also stated that the negotiators are empowered to deal directly with Russia.
—CBS News, 22 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 29 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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