Meaning & Definition of Encourage in English

Detailed Definitions

• Definition: to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence

  Example Sentence: Teachers encourage their students to ask questions.

• Definition: to spur on or motivate someone to take action

  Example Sentence: He encouraged her to pursue her dreams.

• Definition: to promote the development or growth of something

  Example Sentence: The government is working to encourage small businesses.

• Definition: to give support to someone in a difficult situation

  Example Sentence: They encouraged him during his recovery.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English, from Old French 'encorager', from 'en-' (make) + 'corage' (courage)

Synonyms

Common Phrases and Expressions

• encourage someone to do something: to urge someone to take a specific action.
• encourage the growth of: to foster the development of something.
• encourage creativity: to support and stimulate creative thinking.

Translations

• Spanish: animar

• French: encourager

• German: ermutigen

• Russian: поощрять

Related Words

• courage: the ability to do something that frightens one.

• support: to bear all or part of the weight of; hold up.

• motivation: the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.

Slang Meanings of encourage

• Meaning: pump up

  Example Sentence: The coach was there to pump up the team before the game.

• Meaning: root for

  Example Sentence: I always root for my friends to succeed.