verb
encourage
ihn-KUHR-ihj
verb
1
To give someone confidence, support, or hope.
"Her coach encouraged her to keep trying after the loss."
"The good weather encouraged people to eat outdoors."
How to Use Encourage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo cheer someone on or make them more likely to do something.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
encourage someone to
strongly encourage
encourage growth
Word Forms
encouraged past tense, encourages singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “encourage”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her coach _____ her to keep trying after the loss.
Etymology
From Old French encoragier, from en- + corage ("courage, heart").