encourage

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verb en·cour·age \ in-ˈkər-ij , -ˈkə-rij , en- \

Definition of encourage

encouraged; encouraging

transitive verb

1 a :to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope :hearten

she was encouraged to continue by her early success

b :to attempt to persuade :urge

they encouraged him to go back to school

2 :to spur on :stimulate

warm weather encourages plant growth

3 :to give help or patronage to :foster

government grants designed to encourage conservation

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encourager

noun

See encourage defined for English-language learners

See encourage defined for kids

Examples of encourage in a Sentence

They encouraged us in our work.
Encourage each other with kind words.
The program is meant to encourage savings.
Warm weather encourages plant growth.
He claims the new regulations will encourage investment.
He claims the new regulations will encourage people to invest.
We want to encourage students to read more.
My parents encouraged me to go back to college.
They encouraged her to go.

Recent Examples of encourage from the Web

In a statement to Congress, Cohen said he was encouraged to write to Peskov by Felix Sater, a Russian American businessman who was serving as a broker on the deal.

— andrew roth, chicagotribune.com, "Kremlin says it got the Trump Tower email but didn't respond," 30 Aug. 2017
Whatever the case, Saunders, of Memorial Hermann Katy, encouraged soon-to-be moms to pack a hospital bag in the face of an oncoming storm.

— maggie mallon, Glamour, "Do Hurricanes Actually Cause Women to Go Into Labor? Here's What Experts Have to Say," 30 Aug. 2017
The account started a Google spreadsheet Sunday and encouraged people to fill in requests for help.

— marina koren, The Atlantic, "Using Twitter to Save a Newborn From a Flood," 28 Aug. 2017
The Administration should also encourage discussions in Congress and in public debate for further steps that might be taken to go beyond the abrogation decision.

— john r. bolton, National Review, "How to Get Out of the Iran Nuclear Deal," 28 Aug. 2017
Condé Nast Traveler is still encouraging visitors to head across the Shivering Sea to explore Westeros and Essos (granted, all should be wary of rogue spears, poison, beheadings, and weddings).

— Condé Nast Traveler, "Hot (Pie) Tables," 25 Aug. 2017
Farmstand customers were encouraged to get their passports signed or stamped, then send them to the bureau's offices in Countryside to be entered into a drawing.

— mike nolan, Daily Southtown, "Cook County 'Farm Crawl' produces good harvest," 25 Aug. 2017
Voluntary evacuation: City of Seabrook by noon Friday Jackson County Voluntary evacuation Matagorda County Mandatory evacuation for parts of the county Nueces County City of Corpus Christi: evacuation encouraged but not mandatory.

— matthew martinez, star-telegram, "‘You will remember this storm for the rest of your life’," 25 Aug. 2017
The opening-day event is part of a yearlong effort to encourage kids to embrace science and engineering and pursue future STEM careers.

— courtney devores and grace cote, charlotteobserver, "Your 5-minute guide to the best things to do in Charlotte | Aug. 25-31," 24 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'encourage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of encourage

Middle English encoragen, from Anglo-French encorager, from en- + curage courage

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First Known Use: 15th century

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encourage Synonyms

Synonyms

bear up, buck up, buoy (up), cheer (up), chirk (up), embolden, hearten, inspire, inspirit, steel

Antonyms

daunt, discourage, dishearten, dispirit

Related Words

animate, enliven, invigorate; enforce, fortify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; assure, reassure; boost, energize, excite, galvanize, provoke, quicken, rally, stimulate, stir

Near Antonyms

demoralize, depress, sadden; debilitate, enfeeble, hamstring, undermine, weaken; intimidate, psych (out)

Synonym Discussion of encourage

encourage, inspirit, hearten, embolden mean to fill with courage or strength of purpose. encourage suggests the raising of one's confidence especially by an external agency.

- the teacher's praise encouraged the students to greater efforts

inspirit, somewhat literary, implies instilling life, energy, courage, or vigor into something.

- patriots inspirited the people to resist

hearten implies the lifting of dispiritedness or despondency by an infusion of fresh courage or zeal.

- a hospital patient heartened by good news

embolden implies the giving of courage sufficient to overcome timidity or reluctance.

- emboldened by her first success, she tried an even more difficult climb

ENCOURAGE Defined for English Language Learners

encourage

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verb

Definition of encourage for English Language Learners

: to make (someone) more determined, hopeful, or confident
: to make (something) more appealing or more likely to happen
: to make (someone) more likely to do something : to tell or advise (someone) to do something

ENCOURAGE Defined for Kids

encourage

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verb en·cour·age \ in-ˈkər-ij \

Definition of encourage for Students

encouraged; encouraging

1 :make more determined, hopeful, or confident :hearten Cheering fans encouraged the team.

2 :to give help or support to :aid

Warm weather encourages plant growth.

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encouragingly

adverb

“Great job,” she said encouragingly.

Learn More about encourage

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

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Definition of encourage

encourager

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Examples of encourage in a Sentence

Recent Examples of encourage from the Web

Origin and Etymology of encourage

encourage Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of encourage

ENCOURAGE Defined for English Language Learners

encourage

Definition of encourage for English Language Learners

ENCOURAGE Defined for Kids

encourage

Definition of encourage for Students

encouragingly

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