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Definition of encourage

encourage

/ɪnˈkɜːr.ɪdʒ/
en · cour · age
Adverb:encouragingly
•
Adjective:encouraging
•
Past Simple:encouraged
•
Past Participle:encouraged
•
Present Participle:encouraging
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encourage Lexical Profile

encourage Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To give support, confidence, or hope to someone.

Example

"Her teachers always tried to encourage her when she struggled with difficult math problems."

2

To persuade or advise someone to do or continue to do something by offering approval or counsel.

Example

"Parents should encourage their children to read books from a young age."

3

To help or stimulate an activity, state, or belief to develop or grow.

Example

"The municipal government lowered commercial taxes to encourage investment in small businesses."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for encourage
Antonyms
View all antonyms for encourage

• Rhymes for encourage

• Nearby Words

encompasser
encore
encounter
encourage
encouragement
encourager
encouraging

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Old French encoragier, from en- ('make, put in') and corage ('courage, heart'), ultimately derived from Latin cor ('heart').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Encourage. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/encourage
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