encouragement

noun

en·​cour·​age·​ment in-ˈkər-ij-mənt How to pronounce encouragement (audio)
-ˈkə-rij-
en-
Synonyms of encouragementnext
1
: the act of encouraging : the state of being encouraged
2
: something that encourages

Examples of encouragement in a Sentence

Our aim is the encouragement of investment. the encouragement of plant growth teachers who give their students a lot of encouragement With support and encouragement from their parents, the students organized a fundraiser. They offered him gifts of money and other encouragements.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
People also flooded her comments and DMs with prayers, encouragement and stories of their own. Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026 Millions of supporters are sharing messages of encouragement and reflection in response to the journey. Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026 But an unexpected moment in the postgame news conference made headlines and inspired a deluge of social media posts, when a reporter from the Jacksonville Free Press, a Black weekly, offered words of encouragement to head coach Liam Coen instead of asking a question. Denny Alfonso, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026 Minutes before his first NFL playoff game, slot receiver Efton Chism III received some words of encouragement from one of his Patriots predecessors. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 12 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for encouragement

Word History

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of encouragement was in 1549

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Cite this Entry

“Encouragement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encouragement. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.

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