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
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for encourage
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
Example Sentences
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.
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Recent Examples on the Web
In January, the agency issued a new warning about the product, again encouraging consumers to immediately stop using it.
—
Tricia L. Nadolny, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2023
Judy Tripathi and her family turned to social media to get the Brown University student’s name and face out to the public, encouraging family and friends to post messages of support.
—Elizabeth Koh, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Apr. 2023
Critics say the laws encourage violence and allow for legal racial bias.
—Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN, 11 Apr. 2023
To combat the island’s tourism problem, Bali is working to implement changes that would cut down on the number of people visiting and encourage those who are to act more respectfully.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2023
Parry alleged Footman encouraged delinquency in the girls by failing to intervene most of the time, failing to report the fighting to superiors and failing to let parents know.
—Dennis Romero, NBC News, 11 Apr. 2023
Wild mint and eucalyptus permeate the room to awaken your senses and encourage relaxation. 8 Voluspa Home Refresh Small Jar Candle Trio Voluspa’s refreshing candle trio takes you worldwide—no passport needed.
—Nerisha Penrose, elle.com, 11 Apr. 2023
Keeping your pumpkin patch well-weeded and checking for pests will also help support healthy vines and encourage pumpkins to grow larger.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Apr. 2023
The goal was to cut down on frivolous lawsuits and encourage settlements of legitimate claims.
—Jessica Miller, ProPublica, 10 Apr. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘encourage.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English encoragen, from Anglo-French encorager, from en- + curage courage
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of encourage was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near encourage
Cite this Entry
“Encourage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encourage. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on encourage
Last Updated:
14 Apr 2023
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
поощрять, поддерживать, ободрять, воодушевлять, подстрекать, потворствовать
глагол ↓
- ободрять; вселять мужество, надежду; воодушевлять
to be encouraged by smb.’s example — вдохновиться чьим-л. примером 
your appreciation of my work encourages me greatly — ваша оценка моей работы очень меня окрыляет
- поощрять, поддерживать
to encourage the arts — поощрять искусства
I am encouraged to do the same — мне рекомендуют поступить так же
- подстрекать; потворствовать
to encourage the people to hostility — подстрекать население к враждебным действиям
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
Примеры с переводом
Encourage each other with kind words.
Воодушевляйте друг друга добрыми словами.
Warm weather encourages plant growth.
Тёплая погода способствует росту растений.
We want to encourage students to read more.
Мы хотим поспособствовать тому, чтобы студенты больше читали.
I want to thank everyone who has encouraged and supported me.
Я хочу поблагодарить каждого, кто вдохновил и поддержал меня.
They encouraged us in our work.
Они поддерживали нас в работе.
Is it kind to encourage the singer in her hopes?
Хорошо ли получится, если мы будем обнадёживать певицу?
A lot of schools don’t really encourage team sports.
Многие школы не очень-то развивают командные виды спорта.
ещё 23 примера свернуть
Примеры, ожидающие перевода
The city should do more to encourage patronage of local businesses. 
The idea behind the outing is to encourage employees to get to know each other.
…all-you-can-eat buffets seem to encourage some people to become shameless pigs…
Для того чтобы добавить вариант перевода, кликните по иконке ☰, напротив примера.
Возможные однокоренные слова
encouragement — поощрение, ободрение
encouraging — поощрение, ободрение, подстрекательство, обнадеживающий, ободряющий
encourager — вдохновитель, покровитель, пособник, подстрекатель
encouraged — ободренный, воодушевленный
Формы слова
Other forms: encouraged; encouraging; encourages
When you encourage someone, you give him or her the courage or confidence to do something, like when you encourage your little brother to play harder by yelling his name from the sidelines of the soccer field.
The word encourage comes from the Old French word encoragier, meaning «make strong, hearten.» When you encourage the tomato plants in your garden, you water them to promote their growth and health. Encourage can also mean to inspire with hope, like when you encourage your friends to try out for the school play by complimenting their singing and acting talents.
Definitions of encourage
-
verb
inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to
see moresee less-
Antonyms:
-
discourage
deprive of courage or hope; take away hope from; cause to feel discouraged
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types:
- show 11 types…
- hide 11 types…
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barrack, cheer, exhort, inspire, pep up, root on, urge, urge on
spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts
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foster, nurture
help develop, help grow
-
hollo
encourage somebody by crying hollo
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buoy, cheer, embolden, hearten, recreate
give encouragement to
-
draw out
make more sociable
-
bring out
encourage to be less reserved
-
goad, spur
give heart or courage to
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cheerlead
act as a cheerleader in a sports event
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keep going, patronage, patronise, patronize, support
be a regular customer or client of
-
buck up, take heart
gain courage
-
serve, serve well
promote, benefit, or be useful or beneficial to
-
type of:
-
animate, enliven, exalt, inspire, invigorate
heighten or intensify
-
discourage
-
“His financial success
encouraged him to look for a wife” -
verb
contribute to the progress or growth of
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘encourage’.
Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors.
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- Top Definitions
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- Quiz
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- Examples
- British
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
[ en-kur-ij, —kuhr— ]
/ ɛnˈkɜr ɪdʒ, -ˈkʌr- /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
verb (used with object), en·cour·aged, en·cour·ag·ing.
to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence: His coach encouraged him throughout the marathon race to keep on running.
to stimulate by assistance, approval, etc.: One of the chief duties of a teacher is to encourage students.
to promote, advance, or foster: Poverty often encourages crime.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
Which sentence is correct?
Origin of encourage
1400–50; late Middle English encoragen<Anglo-French, Middle French encorag(i)er.See en-1, courage
OTHER WORDS FROM encourage
en·cour·ag·er, nounen·cour·ag·ing·ly, adverbo·ver·en·cour·age, verb (used with object), o·ver·en·cour·aged, o·ver·en·cour·ag·ing.pre·en·cour·age, verb (used with object), pre·en·cour·aged, pre·en·cour·ag·ing.
re·en·cour·age, verb (used with object), re·en·cour·aged, re·en·cour·ag·ing.un·en·cour·aged, adjectiveun·en·cour·ag·ing, adjectivewell-en·cour·aged, adjective
Words nearby encourage
encopresis, encore, encounter, encounter group, encounter session, encourage, encouragement, encrimson, encrinite, encroach, encroaching
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Words related to encourage
boost, buoy, embolden, hearten, inspire, reassure, restore, spur, strengthen, advocate, aid, assist, bolster, develop, ease, favor, further, improve, invite, promote
How to use encourage in a sentence
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In addition to mitigating AI harms, the goal of the principles is to encourage the development of AI systems that could improve children’s growth and well-being.
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Those who live off campus but may need to come to campus are encouraged to go to a health clinic for free testing if they show any symptoms.
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Group culture, too, can encourage certain types of content — including content that violates Facebook’s rules — and admins are often willing participants in that.
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Staff offices would remain open, Schutzenhofer said, but employees were encouraged to work from home.
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Those industries are doing what they can to encourage people to spend like they might have without a pandemic.
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If we want that to change, then all of us have to encourage our legislators to make funding community policing a priority.
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It would definitely be wrong for TLC to encourage us to gawk at these men but their story is worth investigating nonetheless.
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That tends to encourage large and small holders alike to consider turning their weakened rubles into other currencies.
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In the eyes of many pro-life advocates, securing rights for pregnant women is one more way to encourage women to stay pregnant.
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Educated voters will not be allowed to share pens, as the commission said it would encourage them to bring personal pens.
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This and several other things were said by Sieur de Biancourt to encourage his people.
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And, incidentally, to encourage retiring and diffident lady interviewers.
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Very soon I induced my directors to adopt the view that the railway company must encourage and help the project.
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The King of Portugal was a powerful ruler and anxious for new possessions, yet he did not encourage Magellan.
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Let us remember that «if we suffer tamely a lawless attack upon our liberty, we encourage it, and involve others in our doom!»
British Dictionary definitions for encourage
verb (tr)
to inspire (someone) with the courage or confidence (to do something)
to stimulate (something or someone to do something) by approval or help; support
Derived forms of encourage
encouragement, nounencourager, nounencouraging, adjectiveencouragingly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Mansfield say that the object of the exception in regard to Spain and Portugal was to encourage — yes, to _encourage_ — the smuggling trade. ❋ Josiah Quincy (1818)
In fact, the word encourage means “to put courage into, to give strength.” ❋ Karol Ladd (2001)
It’s a great feeling to have a label encourage you to be more socially conscious and politically active. ❋ Unknown (2008)
And I once again encourage any willing Ontario residents to email your representatives and press them to: ❋ Unknown (2009)
Does this emphasis upon physical pain encourage the rest of us to dig deeply into the handbag of our experience and come up with something serviceable, when, in reality, the problem is not actually a matter of hurt at all? ❋ Unknown (2009)
And another thing that I’d like to encourage is colleges of education. ❋ Unknown (2010)
The reader who carefully peruses that bafflegab will observe that the only debate that the ECRI desires to encourage is one among journalists over how much self-censorship they should practice. ❋ Unknown (2009)
May I also take this opportunity to again encourage our priests, religious and laymen and women to also consider coordinating and beginning your own equivalent types of pilgrimages and retreats in your own regions. ❋ Unknown (2009)
May I take this opportunity to again encourage NLM readers who are looking for spiritual reading to considering taking up The Rule of St. Benedict (a nice edition is published by Roman Catholic Books) and to consider monastic retreats and the monastic vocation as part of fostering a liturgical life. ❋ Unknown (2009)
All I can ask or encourage is that NASA mgmt do this whenever possible. ❋ Unknown (2008)
The one thing he will not encourage is imitation Schönberg. ❋ Matthew Guerrieri (2008)
One thing she proves and tries to encourage is that becoming a mother does not mean that one no longer thinks. ❋ Unknown (2007)
I can see a lot of merit to the tool also and the compact size and portability is a definite plus, but would again encourage those who have a limited budget or would not have an ongoing use for this tool to explore there options. ❋ Unknown (2007)
What I’m slowly beginning to sniff and to encourage is that some of the richer gays with their foundations are beginning to talk among themselves about what they can do with their money. ❋ Unknown (2004)
[I like] to encourage others to [reach] their [goals]. ❋ DynamicDimensionsDame (2018)
[The girl’s] grades were failing, so her friends decided to take her out to eat as encouragement.
In the aerobics class, the all-testosterone instructor went around [squeezing] girls’ hips, giving backrubs, and firm [pats] on their lower backs as encouragement. ❋ Xiao Fang (2010)
Tom is an encourager and really enjoyed seeing his boyfriend get [fatter] and fatter.
[www].getasnack.com (not [my website] but an example of a website created by an encourager) ❋ Andy5522 (2009)
Kieran preaches [fiscal conservatism] but if you add women and booze into the [equasion] he’s usually highly encouragable.
Paul’s innate encouragability will be all the more noticeable when he is faced with [Melbourne’s] temptations.
Steph: Rob why is there malibu smelling vomit on my wall? You said you were going to have a quiet night!
Rob: What can I say? I’m encouragable. ❋ PaulGrant (2011)
[Timmy] is encourageable! ❋ Blankblankblankblankblankballs (2008)
Jack: [Truth or Dare]?
Jess: Dare
Jack: Suck my off
Jess: ewww no
[The Encourager]: Do it [no balls]
Jess: Ok ❋ HunerCustom (2018)
How Melmacians Having An Encourage? ❋ MayDayMeh (2018)
[Up next] is [rhys] with the drama award and Karl with the [Encouragement award] ❋ OussOuss (2018)
“My boyfriend is a [nap encourager]! He makes me fall asleep because I’m so [comfy] when we [cuddle]!” ❋ JaneBDoe (2019)
John: Man I can totally [jump off] that third story [balcony]!
Max (to a friend): Boy [John’s] got some liquid encouragement in him. ❋ Q.D.J. (2007)