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
On Thursday, April 16, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants star, 42, shared a glowing photo of herself to Instagram alongside a reflective caption revealing how her comedian husband, 62, empowered her to feel more confident.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
Lifelong friends described Metayer as always promoting excellence and empowering people to rise above their circumstances.
—Joan Murray, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Right now, Mercury and Neptune are forging an alliance in your motivated 10th house, empowering your public path.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
Financial literacy is a fundamental life skill that empowers new graduates to build a secure, stable lifestyle free from unnecessary financial stress.
—Lori Smith, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for empower
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Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026
Lifelong friends described Metayer as always promoting excellence and empowering people to rise above their circumstances.
—Joan Murray, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
Right now, Mercury and Neptune are forging an alliance in your motivated 10th house, empowering your public path.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026
Financial literacy is a fundamental life skill that empowers new graduates to build a secure, stable lifestyle free from unnecessary financial stress.
—Lori Smith, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 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 Apr. 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
