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
While the attorney general may appoint an interim prosecutor for 120 days, federal judges are empowered to select a replacement once that period expires.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 21 Jan. 2026
But this view is not empowering toward women and is often wrong.
—Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
Talking about death can be educational, empowering and inspiring.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Years of high inflation and financial mismanagement eroded middle-class wealth, while high-level corruption has empowered a handful of businessmen to enrich themselves.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for empower
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Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 21 Jan. 2026
But this view is not empowering toward women and is often wrong.
—Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
Talking about death can be educational, empowering and inspiring.
—Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026
Years of high inflation and financial mismanagement eroded middle-class wealth, while high-level corruption has empowered a handful of businessmen to enrich themselves.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for empower
Cite this Entry
“Empower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empower. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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
