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
Lower courts have checked Trump’s lawlessness, but a too-deferential Supreme Court gets the last word and empowers him more than not.
—Jackie Calmes, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
Reaching our Brothers Everywhere (ROBE), based in Atlanta, is committed to educating, equipping, and empowering men to help increase breastfeeding rates and decrease infant mortality rates within African American communities.
—Essence, 29 Aug. 2025
For Dykes, empowering the players isn’t just about pushing them to be leaders or helping them out with their branding.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
Groups of young women may dominate the front rows of Sabrina Carpenter concerts, but up in the nose bleeds or listening on Spotify is the rest of the world, increasingly captivated by the empowering persona crafted by pop’s biggest pint-sized sensation.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for empower
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Jackie Calmes, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025
Reaching our Brothers Everywhere (ROBE), based in Atlanta, is committed to educating, equipping, and empowering men to help increase breastfeeding rates and decrease infant mortality rates within African American communities.
—Essence, 29 Aug. 2025
For Dykes, empowering the players isn’t just about pushing them to be leaders or helping them out with their branding.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025
Groups of young women may dominate the front rows of Sabrina Carpenter concerts, but up in the nose bleeds or listening on Spotify is the rest of the world, increasingly captivated by the empowering persona crafted by pop’s biggest pint-sized sensation.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for empower
Cite this Entry
“Empower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empower. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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
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