encourage

[ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ]

encourage Definition

• 1. give support, confidence, or hope to (someone)
• 2. to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope
• 3. to stimulate by assistance, approval, etc.

Using encourage: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "encourage" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  I always try to encourage my students to do their best.

• Example

  Her parents encouraged her to pursue her dreams.

• Example

  The coach encouraged the team to keep fighting until the end.

• Example

  We need to encourage more people to recycle.

encourage Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for encourage

• motivate
• inspire
• hearten
• uplift
• cheer

Antonyms for encourage

• discourage
• dissuade
• dishearten

Idioms Using encourage

• encouragement enough

  sufficient motivation or support

  Example

  Just knowing that people believe in me is encouragement enough.

• take encouragement from something

  to feel motivated or inspired by something

  Example

  I take encouragement from the fact that I have made progress.

• words of encouragement

  supportive or motivating words

  Example

  Her coach gave her some words of encouragement before the big game.

Phrases with encourage

• encourage someone to do something

  to give someone the confidence or motivation to do something

  Example

  I encouraged my friend to apply for the job.

• encourage someone in something

  to give someone support or approval for something they are doing

  Example

  Her parents always encouraged her in her artistic pursuits.

• encourage something along

  to help something to develop or progress

  Example

  The government is encouraging the growth of small businesses.

Origins of encourage

from Old French 'encoragier', meaning 'make strong, hearten'

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Summary: encourage in Brief

To 'encourage' [ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ] someone is to give them support, confidence, or hope, often to motivate them to do something. It can also mean to inspire with courage or spirit, or to stimulate by assistance or approval. Examples include 'I always try to encourage my students to do their best' and 'We need to encourage more people to recycle.' Phrases like 'encourage someone to do something' and idioms like 'words of encouragement' highlight the supportive nature of this verb.