encourage

/ɪnˈkɜːrɪdʒ/

Say it: in-KUR-ij

1. verb To give support, confidence, or hope to someone.
My teacher encouraged me to enter the science fair.
2. verb To help or stimulate an activity, state, or view to develop.
The city's policies are designed to encourage local business growth.
3. verb To persuade someone to do or continue to do something.
He encouraged his friend to try the new restaurant.

📖 Seen in the wild

The teacher worked hard to encourage her students to pursue their passions.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ encourage in a sentence

As a manager, she works hard to encourage open communication on her team.
The sunny weather encouraged a last-minute trip to the beach.
The foundation's grant is intended to encourage young artists.
We strongly encourage all guests to RSVP by Friday.
He felt encouraged by the positive feedback on his first draft.
The article encourages readers to think critically about their sources of information.
Her early success encouraged her to pursue a career in music.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

hearten inspire motivate support promote foster urge cheer on

hearten · focuses on lifting someone's spirits, especially when they are down.

inspire · suggests a more profound, uplifting influence that sparks creativity or action.

motivate · implies providing a specific reason or incentive to act.

support · emphasizes providing practical or emotional backing rather than just verbal confidence.

Opposites: discourage, dissuade, dishearten, deter, inhibit

🌱 Where it comes from

The word encourage literally means 'to put courage in'. It entered English from Old French 'encoragier', which combines the prefix 'en-', meaning 'in' or 'put in', with 'corage', meaning 'courage' or 'heart'. The meaning has remained remarkably stable over centuries, always relating to the act of instilling bravery or confidence.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

encourage someone to do somethingstrongly encourageencourage participationencourage investmentfeel encouraged by

Encourage is a versatile and generally positive word. It is almost always followed by an object and often a 'to' infinitive verb, as in 'encourage them to apply'. Be aware of its use in formal contexts like 'You are strongly encouraged to attend', which can be a polite but firm way of saying something is nearly mandatory. It is distinct from 'incite', which means to urge someone to act in a violent or unlawful way.

Word family: encouragement, encouraging, encouragingly

💬 Quick answers

What does encourage mean?

To encourage means to give someone support and confidence, or to help an activity or development happen. It's about making a positive outcome more likely.

What is the difference between encourage and motivate?

Encourage focuses on giving someone courage or confidence, often through emotional support. Motivate is more about providing a specific reason or incentive for someone to act.

Is encourage a formal word?

Encourage is a neutral word that is appropriate for both formal and informal settings. It fits well in a casual conversation, a business email, or an academic paper.

What is the noun for encourage?

The noun form is 'encouragement'. It refers to the act of encouraging or the support and confidence that is given.

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