encouragement

noun en·cour·age·ment \ in-ˈkər-ij-mənt , -ˈkə-rij- , en- \

Updated on: 16 Apr 2018

Definition of encouragement

1 : the act of encouraging : the state of being encouraged

2 : something that encourages

See encouragement defined for English-language learners

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 of encouragement from the Web

On Tuesday, students greeted their teachers with hugs, smiles and words of encouragement.

— mercedes leguizamon and brandon griggs, CNN, "Teachers who walked out in Oklahoma were missing their students. So they set up a playdate," 11 Apr. 2018
Brady is able to lower his guard around his 15-year-old sister, Lilly (Lilly Jandreau), who steers him through his recovery with songs, encouragement and lively chatter.

— justin chang, latimes.com, "Chloé Zhao's cowboy drama 'The Rider' is a moving, lyrical tale of loss and recovery," 10 Apr. 2018
Compassionate staff offer the encouragement and positive reinforcement needed to move you toward your goals.

— chicagotribune.com, "Feed your bones with these crucial foods," 1 Apr. 2018
In the tradition of both black and white southern folk preaching, ministers usually spoke extemporaneously to unlettered congregants, who expected the Spirit of God to impart messages of encouragement and hope.

— The Economist, "The making of Martin Luther King’s speeches," 28 Mar. 2018
That encouragement, and the patently Scandinavian brand of compassion that radiates from his films, revealed the Bergman that Ullmann knew and loved.

— dante a. ciampaglia, Newsweek, "Ingmar Bergman Muse Liv Ullmann Remembers Life With the Swedish Filmmaker," 5 Mar. 2018
Amid the criticism, Pence received emails of encouragement from across the country, urging him to stand his ground.

— brian slodysko, Fox News, "Emails: Conservatives slammed Pence in 2015 for changing law," 29 Mar. 2018
Amid the criticism, Pence received emails of encouragement from across the country, urging him to stand his ground.

— Washington Post, "Emails: Conservatives slammed Pence in 2015 for changing law," 28 Mar. 2018
Amid the criticism, Pence received emails of encouragement from across the country, urging him to stand his ground.

— brian slodysko, Indianapolis Star, "Emails: Conservatives slammed then-Gov. Mike Pence in 2015 for changing religious freedom law," 28 Mar. 2018

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