First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
encourage
verb en·cour·age \in-ˈkər-ij, -ˈkə-rij, en-\
: to make (someone) more determined, hopeful, or confident
: to make (something) more appealing or more likely to happen
: to make (someone) more likely to do something : to tell or advise (someone) to do something
en·cour·ageden·cour·ag·ing
Full Definition of ENCOURAGE
transitive verb
1
2
: to spur on : stimulate <warm weather encourages plant growth>
3
: to give help or patronage to : foster <government grants designed to encourage conservation>
— en·cour·ag·er noun
See encourage defined for English-language learners
See encourage defined for kids
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Origin of ENCOURAGE
Middle English encoragen, from Anglo-French encorager, from en- + curage courage
Related to ENCOURAGE
- Synonyms
- bear up, buck up, buoy (up), cheer (up), chirk (up), embolden, hearten, inspire, inspirit, steel
- Antonyms
- daunt, discourage, dishearten, dispirit
Synonym Discussion of ENCOURAGE
encourage, inspirit, hearten, embolden mean to fill with courage or strength of purpose. encourage suggests the raising of one's confidence especially by an external agency <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>.
Rhymes with ENCOURAGE
ENCOURAGED Defined for Kids
encourage
verb en·cour·age \in-ˈkər-ij\
en·cour·ageden·cour·ag·ing
Definition of ENCOURAGE for Kids
1
: make more determined, hopeful, or confident : hearten <Cheering fans encouraged the team.>
2
: to give help or support to : aid <Warm weather encourages plant growth.>
— en·cour·ag·ing·ly adverb <“Great job,” she said encouragingly.>
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