encourageen‧cour‧age /ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ $ ɪnˈkɜːr-/ ●●● S2 W1 verb [transitive] 
I want to thank everyone who has encouraged and supported me.encourage somebody to do something Cooder was encouraged to begin playing the guitar by his father.encourage somebody in something Fleur encouraged Dana in her ambition to become a model.2to persuade someone to do something OPP discourage: Cantor didn’t mind if they worked late; in fact, he actively encouraged it.encourage somebody to do something A 10p rise in cigarette prices is not enough to encourage smokers to stop.► see thesaurus at persuade3to make something more likely to exist, happen, or develop: Violent TV programmes encourage anti-social behaviour.—encouraged adjective [not before noun]: She felt encouraged by the many letters of support.
VERB TABLE
encourage
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | encourage |
| he, she, it | encourages | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | encouraged |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have encouraged |
| he, she, it | has encouraged | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had encouraged |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will encourage |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have encouraged |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am encouraging |
| he, she, it | is encouraging | |
| you, we, they | are encouraging | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was encouraging |
| you, we, they | were encouraging | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been encouraging |
| he, she, it | has been encouraging | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been encouraging |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be encouraging |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been encouraging |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Cigarette machines in the streets will only encourage more teenagers to smoke.
- Congress is considering tax breaks to encourage investment.
- Damp conditions encourage the growth of the fungus.
- Her letters really encouraged me throughout my illness.
- Her parents encouraged her to cook and even paid her to make dinner twice a week.
- I would never have won if my friends hadn't encouraged me to keep trying.
- Patricia encouraged me to apply for the job.
- She was always looking for ways to encourage her students.
- This insurance plan will be too hard to administer and will encourage fraud.
- We want to encourage more children to use the library.
- Avoid spraying your plants with pesticides, grow plants that encourage beneficial insects such as carrots, parsley, parsnips and nettles.
- But no evidence suggests that she courted danger for her children as she encouraged their freedom.
- Is it responsible to be actively encouraging gay men to use a product that is untested?
- Likewise we recognize that pre-feminist homemakers were encouraged to stand by, and lie beneath, their men.
- The popularity of organised tours visiting the Balearics and the interest of the locals has encouraged the club to expand.
- The San Francisco angler with the signature floppy fishing cap encourages tyros not to be intimidated.
THESAURUS
to make someone decide to do something, especially by giving them reasons why they should do it, or asking them many times to do it: · I persuaded her to change her mind.· Do you think you can persuade him to lend us the money?
to persuade someone to do something, especially something they do not really want to do: · Why did I let you talk me into this?· He finally talked her into going on a date with him.
to make someone do something by persuading or asking them: · If we can’t get a taxi I’ll get Joe to pick us up.· I know how to get you to kiss me.
to persuade someone that they should do something, because it is the best or the right thing to do. Some British speakers think this use is incorrect, and prefer to use persuade: · It would be difficult to convince him to move.
to try to persuade someone to do something, especially because you think it will be good for them: · Children should be encouraged to read all kinds of books.
to have an effect on what someone decides to do: · What influences you to buy clothes?
to persuade someone to do something by talking gently and kindly: · I tried to coax him to eat a little.
to persuade someone to do something by praising them or making promises to them: · He hoped to cajole her into selling her house.
to persuade or encourage someone to do something wrong or stupid: · Who put you up to this?
formal to persuade someone not to do something: · How do you dissuade young people from experimenting with drugs?
Longman Language Activatorto help someone by making them feel more confident and less worried to say or do things that help someone feel confident enough to do something, for example by telling them they are good enough to do it, by giving them advice etc: · She was always looking for ways to encourage her students.encourage somebody to do something: · I would never have won if my friends hadn't encouraged me to keep trying.
to make someone feel less worried and more confident by talking to them in a sympathetic way and giving them practical help: · It was a difficult decision, but my family was very supportive.be supportive of: · My husband has always been very supportive of everything that I do.
to help someone by being sympathetic and kind to them during a difficult time in their life: · She is my daughter, and I will love and support her no matter what happens.· I am very grateful to members of the faculty who have supported me in so many ways.
to help someone, especially someone who is in a difficult situation, by telling them that they are right in what they are doing, and encouraging them to be brave, confident, etc: · She was very nervous about the interview, so I went along to give her some moral support.· The US is giving the rebel leaders moral support, but so far no weapons.
to help something to happen to help something such as an improvement to happen: · The plan was intended to help development in rural areas.help do something: · Spending time in Spain should help improve her Spanish.help to do something: · It is hoped that the tax increases will help to stabilize the economy.
to make something more likely to happen or make people more likely to do something, often something that you think they should not do: · Congress is considering tax breaks to encourage investment.· Damp conditions encourage the growth of the fungus.encourage somebody to do something: · Cigarette machines in the streets will only encourage more teenagers to smoke.
formal: promote good relations/cooperation/trade etc to help something good to happen or to develop and increase: · The aim of the meeting is to promote trade between the two countries.· A balanced diet promotes good health and normal development.
formal to help something get better, develop, grow etc: · The country's economic recovery has been aided by increased international trade.· The large number of Latino voters aided Garcia's victory in the last election.
to give advantages to someone or something, so that something can improve: · Critics argue that the tax cuts will only benefit large companies.· Admission is $5, with proceeds benefiting a local children's charity.
to help something you are trying to do to be successful: · Separatist rebels have used terrorism to advance their cause in the region.· The associations allow professionals to band together to further their interests.
formal if a situation is conducive to something such as work, rest etc, it provides the conditions that make it easier: · All this noise is hardly conducive to rest and relaxation.· We want to create an atmosphere conducive to serious discussion.
to help something such as a business so that it suddenly begins to develop more quickly: · The recent drop in interest rates has given the economy a much needed boost.give sth a boost to: · The central government also privatized farmland, giving a boost to food production.
British /be favorable for/to American written if conditions are favourable for or to something such as an agreement or an improvement in a situation, they make it more likely to happen: · The conditions are now favorable for job creation and economic growth.· The conference has produced a political climate that is favourable to a peace settlement.
to persuade someone to do something to make someone agree to do something, by giving them reasons why they should do it: · Neil didn't want to come at first, but we persuaded him.persuade somebody to do something: · I tried to persuade his ex-girlfriend to talk to him, but she said no.· Teachers need ways to persuade more parents to attend parent-teacher evenings.persuade (that): · He was convicted of the murder, but he is still trying to persuade the public that he's innocent.
things that you say in order to persuade someone to do something: · They hope to end the conflict using persuasion rather than threats.persuasion to: · The Republican leader used every means of persuasion to get senators to vote against the bill.take persuasion: · It took a lot of persuasion to get Dad to agree to the idea.gentle/friendly persuasion (=persuading someone without using threats): · Until the law was passed, the agency could only use gentle persuasion to get industries to reduce waste.powers of persuasion (=skills used for persuading): · The fate of the bill in Congress will depend on Brady's powers of persuasion.
informal to make someone do what you want them to do, especially by trying to persuade them over a long time: · I'm sure I can get Eddie to do it.· My girlfriend is always trying to get me to stop smoking.· Parents learn ways to talk to and carry a baby to get it to stop crying.
to affect what someone decides to do, but without directly persuading them: · I hope you weren't influenced by anything that your brother said.· Do TV programs influence children's behaviour?· Judges should not be influenced by political motives.
to try to persuade someone to do something, because you think it will be good for them: encourage somebody to do something: · Her parents encouraged her to cook and even paid her to make dinner twice a week.· Patricia encouraged me to apply for the job.· We want to encourage more children to use the library.
informal to persuade someone to do something that they do not want to do: talk sb into doing something: · I managed to talk them into paying me more money.· Officers said they tried to talk Wilson into leaving the bar, but he started to struggle.talk somebody into it: · I didn't really want to go to the party, but Dave talked me into it.
to persuade someone to do something wrong or stupid, especially when they would not have thought of doing it themselves: · We want to know why they did it and if anyone put them up to it.· Did someone put you up to this?
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Cantor didn’t mind if they worked late; in fact, he actively encouraged it.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Cantor didn’t mind if they worked late; in fact, he actively encouraged it. (=make people want to work together)· The programme will promote cooperation between universities and industry.
(=make it more likely to exist)· Creating a pond in your garden encourages wildlife diversity.
(=make them more likely to exist)· Kenya used subsidies to encourage exports.
· Greater government spending may stimulate economic growth.
· The government has cut taxes in order to stimulate investment.
(=when people like something or show interest)· We’ve had a good response from the public.
· If she can move her legs, that’s a good sign.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· This means they must actively encourage a more selective approach to custodial remand and sentencing.· I come from a family where blood feuds are not only tolerated, but actively encouraged.· Neighbouring schools may actively encourage difficult and demanding families to seek somewhere else for the education of their children.· Is it responsible to be actively encouraging gay men to use a product that is untested?· Sister Guadalupe, nun, June 1983 Right from the beginning, we have actively encouraged women's incorporation.· Cold-calling, at one licensed dealer, when the salesmen got desperate, was just not tolerated, it was actively encouraged.· Headway Pre-Intermediate invites students to think about how they learn, and actively encourages good study habits.· The university actively encourages the entrepreneurs.
· They are also encouraged to make connections between medical and scientific advances and changes in human society.· Leaders also encourage creativity when they take the sting out of failure.· Whitefly also encourage aphids which feed off the sugary deposits.· The sickly, overheated corporate environment also encourages a kind of meeting mindlessness.· Merton's thesis was that a godly involvement in the affairs of the world would also encourage the growth of science.· Bufkins also encouraged the managers to visit their engineers on-site more often and attend more meetings.· The policy review was also encouraged by hints of a Soviet willingness to negotiate.· Psychiatrists also encourage self-stripping on the part of their patients.
NOUN· We also need to encourage children to use their imaginations in science lessons.· It does moral damage by encouraging prejudice within children regardless of their color.· Landlessness was also seen as an element of poverty and encouraged large families so that children could earn and remit wages.· Charles Booth argued, probably correctly, that old age pensions would encourage children to take in elderly parents.· Because men have been taught to value independence, they betray no one by encouraging it in their children.· Reading and spelling accuracy is encouraged as the child copies one of these program listings.
· And fourthly, subsidies and loans help provide finance to encourage development.· Since we last met, there have been further encouraging developments.· A great deal can be done by government to help and encourage such development.· It provided finance, ensured protection and, on occasion, encouraged technological development.· The university authorities encouraged this novel development and three students were eventually elected to the county congress.· Various devices were used to encourage the development of separate identities between the two groups.· Growth promoters will encourage root development and tiller survival.
· But clearly governments were ready to encourage innovatory thinking.· There is clearly a fine line between stifling government intervention and encouraging creativity and innovation.· A great deal can be done by government to help and encourage such development.· Normal government budgets encourage managers to waste money.· By selecting Tadchester as one of the new Development Zones the government plans to encourage new industry in the area.· Whenever the flow of emigrants slowed, the government in Lisbon encouraged it again.· Margaret Thatcher's governments encouraged the old nationalised industries to sell derelict sites which retailers snapped up for building superstores.
· The introduction of psephology encouraged the growth of opinion polls as a guide to voting trends.· Light to moderate pruning after a period of bloom encourages bushy new growth.· It involves cutting down the main trunk to encourage new growth from the edge of the stump.· The second hazard is that old bugaboo, moisture, encouraging mildew growth and eventual decay.· Nitrates contribute to nutrient enrichment which encourages algal growth and blooms.· It recommends that the government reduce spending to encourage growth in private industry to bring about faster rates of economic growth.· Although she enjoys the aesthetic value of wild flowers, her reason for encouraging their widespread growth is principally scientific.· Rationalism of this kind has encouraged the growth of more and more nebulous deism.
· If these measures had been designed to encourage investment, or to create jobs, they would at least have restored economic growth.· In this framework, policies that encourage investment are good; policies that make investment less profitable are bad.· Other hoped-for measures include tax breaks for industry to encourage investment and more cash for building projects.· The federal government creates these funny situations with tax breaks to encourage investment.· A series of measures-such as' Competition Credit Controlwere introduced to encourage investment and reduce regulatory controls on private sector investment decisions.· We shall pursue the privatisation programme, and encourage private investment, both domestic and foreign.· It was designed to use preferential interest rates to encourage investment in manufacturing, tourism, mining and agriculture.
· Please encourage class members to lobby their local councils about cuts in classes, either personally or by petition.· Director Pat Bean encourages members to tape rehearsals and practice at home.· Ideally, market forces alone would be enough to encourage members to assume these various roles.· The political party can encourage or require its members to work together to achieve shared policy goals.· Please do your best to encourage your class members to come along.· Mr Sayer also hinted at moves to encourage other wealthier members of the association to increase their current contributions.· Every store encourages members to raise money for charity which is doubled by the company.· The quiz was held to encourage members of staff to discuss safety issues and seek information.
· The Profitboss encourages unconventional ways of making profit, encouraging his people to be creative and take initiative.· In the 1870s, after all, when plumpness was in vogue, physicians had encouraged people to gain weight.· The idea was to encourage people to join a union - not ban them if they couldn't.· The same freedom from job limits that unleashes enormous effort also encourages people to overextend themselves.· We know also that police screening encourages people not to report.· Graham also encouraged people to turn away from materialism and instead focus on what he said really matters: the spiritual.· Success would encourage young people to stay in the inner city instead of moving out of the area.
· The policy review was also encouraged by hints of a Soviet willingness to negotiate.· In this framework, policies that encourage investment are good; policies that make investment less profitable are bad.· First, is it an ethical investment policy to encourage people to try to have their cake and eat it?· What makes it worse, they say, is that federal policies encourage the layoffs.· The government also pursued policies designed to encourage a commercial ethos in the remaining public enterprises.· If we want to make policy changes that will encourage parents to remain together, we can do so.· Their policy to encourage cycling, not the macho sort but for families, is very progressive.
· It encourages pupils to approach them from angles not considered by other subjects or forms of study in the curriculum.· Traditionally it has meant some form of moral education to encourage pupils to develop attitudes of cooperation and concern for justice.· It encourages creativity and allows pupils to use the language they have learnt in the context of stimulating and relevant projects.· Here we need to encourage pupils to think and express themselves in vivid ways using word pictures.· The teacher has a role in encouraging the pupil to use the aid and in reducing teasing by other pupils.· Teachers should discuss the cogency and clarity of such documents and should encourage pupils to improve them.· To encourage individual pupil use in their non-timetabled school day. 7.
· Will Compacts encourage students to leave school at sixteen instead of participating in further education?· Some programs also are encouraging students to enter four-year colleges who might not have done so in the past.· In retrospect he criticized one of his old drawing masters for encouraging students to copy from photographs.· In the classroom, cultural analysis encourages students to examine for themselves the underlying assumptions in the texts they are studying.· Schaeffer encouraged teachers and students to take part in cultural sensitivity training workshops.· Criticism of the service side of training should be encouraged so improvements in student learning and patient care can be developed.· Early results from Roosevelt suggest that the pathway focus actually may encourage students to take more, not less, academics.
· BIndustry spokesmen argue that encouraging widespread use of unconnected phones would lead to mischief and abuse.· The effective use of new power strategies, albeit awkward at first, encourages their use in the future.· More competition encourages the use of modern, efficient aircraft.· This greater bandwidth will encourage the use of capacity-hogging services such as continuous audio and video.· We will encourage more effective use of local sport and leisure facilities through compulsory competitive tendering.· This low sensitivity rate has encouraged the use of instruments to enhance cell exfoliation.· The grammatical system of each language will itself encourage the use of certain devices in preference to others.
VERB· If these measures had been designed to encourage investment, or to create jobs, they would at least have restored economic growth.· President Clinton Friday endorsed incentives designed to encourage states to move children more quickly from foster-care settings into permanent adoptive homes.· Taxes should be designed to encourage greater effort and levied only when wealth is achieved.· The government last month introduced a package of incentives and tax breaks designed to encourage home and household-goods purchases.· In addition, the Report made a number of other detailed recommendations which were designed to encourage an increase in technological studies.· The limits are designed to encourage fiscal responsibility.· It's a new site designed to encourage women to get online and enjoy their favourite magazine in the process.· Taxation may be designed to encourage the division of estates.
· Lambeth Council is trying to encourage more homosexual men and women to adopt children or become foster parents.· I try to encourage as much openness and contrary views as possible.· I tried to encourage him to tell me more of his own story.· He had tried to encourage a traditional democracy.· But take courage, and try and encourage your children to talk about their feelings too.· Clinton is trying to encourage employers to hire welfare recipients through tax breaks and subsidies.· The marketer will try to encourage brand loyalty as a means of rendering the purchase process more comfortable and more satisfying.· Counselors try to encourage patients to get into treatment.
WORD FAMILYadjectiveencouraged ≠ discouragedencouraging ≠ discouragingnounencouragement ≠ discouragementverbencourage ≠ discourageadverbencouragingly ≠ discouragingly
1to give someone the courage or confidence to do something OPP discourage: I want to thank everyone who has encouraged and supported me.encourage somebody to do something Cooder was encouraged to begin playing the guitar by his father.encourage somebody in something Fleur encouraged Dana in her ambition to become a model.2to persuade someone to do something OPP discourage: Cantor didn’t mind if they worked late; in fact, he actively encouraged it.encourage somebody to do something A 10p rise in cigarette prices is not enough to encourage smokers to stop.► see thesaurus at persuade3to make something more likely to exist, happen, or develop: Violent TV programmes encourage anti-social behaviour.—encouraged adjective [not before noun]: She felt encouraged by the many letters of support.