Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense encourages, present participle encouraging, past tense, past participle encouraged
1. verb
If you encourage someone, you give them confidence, for example by letting them know that what they are doing is good and telling them that they should continue to do it.
When things aren't going well, he encourages me, telling me not to give up. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: inspire, comfort, rally, cheer More Synonyms of encourage
2. verb [usually passive]
If someone is encouraged by something that happens, it gives them hope or confidence.
Investors were encouraged by the news. [beVERB-ed + by]
He is encouraged by a dry weather forecast. [beV-ed by n]
encouragedadjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE, oft ADJECTIVE that]
We were very encouraged, after over 17,000 pictures were submitted.
I am encouraged that we appear to be making progress.
3. verb
If you encourage someone to do something, you try to persuade them to do it, for example by telling them that it would be a pleasant thing to do, or by trying to make it easier for them to do it. You can also encourage an activity.
We want to encourage people to go fishing, not put them off. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
He was encouraged by his family to learn music at a young age. [beVERB-ed to-infinitive]
Their task is to help encourage private investment in Russia. [VERB noun]
Participation is encouraged at all levels. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: promote, back, help, support More Synonyms of encourage
4. verb
If something encourages a particular activity or state, it causes it to happen or increase.
...a natural substance that encourages cell growth. [VERB noun]
Such secrecy breeds and encourages fear and suspicion. [VERB noun]
Slow music encourages supermarket-shoppers to browse longer but spend more. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
More Synonyms of encourage
encourage in British English
(ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ)
verb(transitive)
1.
to inspire (someone) with the courage or confidence (to do something)
2.
to stimulate (something or someone to do something) by approval or help; support
Derived forms
encouragement (enˈcouragement)
noun
encourager (enˈcourager)
noun
encouraging (enˈcouraging)
adjective
encouragingly (enˈcouragingly)
adverb
encourage in American English
(ɛnˈkɜrɪdʒ; ɪnˈkɜrɪdʒ)
verb transitiveWord forms: enˈcouraged or enˈcouraging
1.
to give courage, hope, or confidence to; embolden; hearten
2.
to give support to; be favorable to; foster; help
Word origin
ME encouragen < OFr encoragier: see en-1 & courage
Examples of 'encourage' in a sentence
encourage
The increase could also encourage more motorists to drive illegally without cover.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But the campaign is about more than encouraging local residents to read.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Critics say ministers should be looking at encouraging people to give up sugar themselves.
The Sun (2016)
Police dropped in to help us encourage parents to go home and get the uniform sorted.
The Sun (2016)
That made me feel hugely encouraged but also rather guilty.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Local people will also be encouraged to look out for suspicious behaviour.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In one town old people have been encouraged to give up their driving licences in return for free noodles.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The Tory peer would also like to see employers encouraged to help to people save for care.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
What is it about outsourcing that encourages such odd, self-defeating behaviour?
Computing (2010)
On the ones that were inhabited, they most likely encouraged enforced group activity, with nowhere to hide from the conga line.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That further encouraged optimism about the health of the biggest economy.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You will become more joyful as your focus turns outward to helping and encouraging others.
Christianity Today (2000)
For him to encourage us to give money when he is being paid is a disgrace.
The Sun (2007)
There is so much firms can do to encourage mothers to continue their careers.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
You can only encourage and help people to get better when there is accountability.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Do websites like this encourage people to give up on relationships instead of sorting their problems?
The Sun (2013)
The young mothers will also be encouraged to remain in their family homes.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Encourage physical activity such as going out dancing and park walks.
The Sun (2013)
It is not about encouraging people to leave a sinking ship.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Wildlife groups encourage homeowners to help hedgehogs by cutting holes in the bottom of fences.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Ask about her marriage and encourage her to give it another try.
The Sun (2008)
More firms should also be encouraged to take on youngsters for apprenticeships.
The Sun (2011)
And to what extent does the tax regime encourage entrepreneurial activity in the first place?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
We must help encourage them to fulfil their potential.
The Sun (2012)
It also appears to encourage the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It may have made me feel more secure about myself and encouraged other women to do the same.
The Sun (2009)
The success of the innumerable pictures along these identical lines that we have produced in the past encourages us to continue.
Hamilton, Ian Writers in Hollywood, 1915-51 (1990)
More to encourage others to give.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
encourage
British English: encourage /ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ/ VERB
If you encourage someone, you give them confidence, for example by letting them know that what they are doing is good.
When things aren't going well, he encourages me, telling me not to give up.
American English: encourage
Arabic: يُشَجِّعُ
Brazilian Portuguese: encorajar
Chinese: 鼓励
Croatian: ohrabriti
Czech: povzbudit
Danish: opmuntre
Dutch: aanmoedigen
European Spanish: animar
Finnish: rohkaista
French: encourager
German: ermutigen
Greek: ενθαρρύνω
Italian: incoraggiare
Japanese: 勇気づける
Korean: 용기를 북돋우다
Norwegian: oppmuntre
Polish: zachęcić
European Portuguese: encorajar
Romanian: a încuraja
Russian: ободрять
Latin American Spanish: animar
Swedish: uppmuntra
Thai: ให้กำลังใจ
Turkish: yüreklendirmek
Ukrainian: заохочувати
Vietnamese: khuyến khích
Chinese translation of 'encourage'
encourage
(ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ)
vt
[person]鼓励(勵) (gǔlì)
[activity, attitude]支持 (zhīchí)
[growth, industry]助长(長) (zhùzhǎng)
to encourage sb to do sth鼓励(勵)某人去做某事 (gǔlì mǒurén qù zuò mǒushì)
to be encouraged by sth由于(於)某事受到鼓励(勵) (yóuyú mǒushì shòudào gǔlì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to give (someone) the confidence to do something
When things aren't going well, he always encourages me.
Synonyms
inspire
What inspired you to change your name?
comfort
He put his arm round her, trying to comfort her.
rally
cheer
The people around him were cheered by his presence.
stimulate
I was stimulated to examine my deepest thoughts.
reassure
She just reassured me and told me that everything was fine.
animate
There was little about the game to animate the crowd.
console
I can console myself with the thought that I'm not alone.
rouse
hearten
The news heartened everybody.
cheer up
embolden
Emboldened by his success, he started on a second novel.
buoy up
pep up
boost someone's morale
give hope to
buck up (informal)
gee up
lift the spirits of
give confidence to
inspirit
Opposites
depress
,
discourage
,
dishearten
,
dispirit
2 (verb)
Definition
to stimulate (something or someone) by approval or help
She encouraged her to demand a pay rise.
Synonyms
urge
He urged restraint on the security forces.
persuade
My husband persuaded me to come.
prompt
The recession has prompted consumers to cut back on buying cars.
spur
His friend's plight had spurred him into taking part.
coax
After lunch she coaxed him into talking about himself.
incite
He incited his fellow citizens to take revenge.
egg on
abet
The media have abetted the feeling of unreality.
Opposites
prevent
,
scare
,
intimidate
,
deter
,
inhibit
,
daunt
,
hinder
,
dissuade
,
throw cold water on (informal)
3 (verb)
Definition
to stimulate (something or someone) by approval or help
Their task is to encourage private investment in Russia.
Synonyms
promote
His country will do everything possible to promote peace.
back
He is backed by the civic movement.
help
If you're not willing to help me, I'll find somebody who will.
support
He supported the hardworking people.
increase
The company has increased the price of its cars.
further
Education needn't only be about furthering your career.
aid
Calcium may aid the prevention of dental decay.
forward
He forwarded their cause with courage, skill and humour.
advance
He was busy advancing other people's work.
favour
We favour greater protection of the environment.
boost
We need a big win to boost our confidence.
strengthen
foster
They are keen to foster trading links with the West.
advocate
They advocate fewer government controls on business.
stimulate
endorse
I can endorse this statement wholeheartedly.
commend
succour
The money would be used to succour evicted families.
Opposites
prevent
,
inhibit
,
hinder
, retard,
throw cold water on (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abet
The media have abetted the feeling of unreality.
Synonyms
encourage,
further,
forward,
promote,
urge,
boost,
prompt,
spur,
foster,
incite,
connive at
in the sense of advance
Definition
to further a cause
He was busy advancing other people's work.
Synonyms
promote,
help,
further,
aid,
forward,
champion,
push,
encourage,
assist,
plug (informal),
pave the way for,
hasten,
patronize,
succour,
lend support to
in the sense of advocate
Definition
to recommend a course of action publicly
They advocate fewer government controls on business.