encouraging

1 of 2

adjective

en·​cour·​ag·​ing in-ˈkər-i-jiŋ 

-ˈkə-ri-, 

en-

: giving hope or promise

encouraging news

encouragingly

in-ˈkər-i-jiŋ-lē 

-ˈkə-ri-, 

en-

adverb

encouraging

2 of 2

present participle of encourage

Synonyms of encouraging

Adjective

• promising
• bright
• optimistic

Examples of encouraging in a Sentence

Adjective

We've just heard some encouraging news.

encouraging signs that the economy is improving

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

This is encouraging — trustworthy system should be able to pump the breaks and realize when data inputs are too unreliable to make accurate estimations. — Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026

The day began with gains for stocks following an encouraging report that said inflation wasn’t as bad across the United States last month as economists expected. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026

While encouraging and raising the odds of the Fed holding borrowing costs steady at its October meeting, the level of market rates has become quite competitive with stocks — not to mention, elevated inflation still eats away at returns. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026

More encouraging than the northbound flow of films from the Global South is the fact that financing isn’t only flowing in the opposite direction. — Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1593, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for encouraging

• discouraging