Encourage Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 5, 2024
"Encourage" means to give support, confidence, or hope to someone, motivating them to continue or improve. e.g., The coach would always encourage his players before a big game.
Table of Contents
Encourage Definitions
Encourage refers to promoting or fostering a positive action or feeling.
The teacher encouraged creativity in her classroom.
Encourage can mean to urge someone to pursue a particular course of action.
He was encouraged to apply for the scholarship.
Encourage means to inspire someone with the courage or confidence to do something.
She encouraged her friend to try out for the play.
Encourage involves reassuring someone to lessen their fears.
The doctor encouraged the patient about the success of the treatment.
Encourage pertains to giving support or advice that helps someone continue.
Parents should encourage their children to read daily.
Encourage describes the act of boosting someone's morale or spirit.
The applause encouraged the young singer to perform confidently.
Encourage can mean to stimulate the development of an activity or state.
The policy was designed to encourage economic growth.
Encourage is used when instilling hope or optimism in someone.
The motivational speaker encouraged the audience to chase their dreams.
Encourage denotes helping someone feel more determined or enthusiastic.
They encouraged each other to complete the challenging hike.
Encourage can refer to giving someone the confidence to do something new.
He encouraged his sister to learn a new language.
To inspire with hope, courage, or confidence.
To give support to; foster
Policies designed to encourage private investment.
To stimulate; spur
Burning the field to encourage new plant growth.
To mentally support; to motivate, give courage, hope or spirit.
I encouraged him during his race.
Delia's coach encouraged her to focus on the positives.
To spur on, strongly recommend.
We encourage the use of bicycles in the town centre.
We encourage you to cycle instead of taking the car.
To foster, give help or patronage
The royal family has always encouraged the arts in word and deed.
To give courage to; to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope; to raise, or to increase, the confidence of; to animate; enhearten; to incite; to help forward; - the opposite of discourage.
David encouraged himself in the Lord.
Contribute to the progress or growth of;
I am promoting the use of computers in the classroom
Inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to
Spur on;
His financial success encouraged him to look for a wife
Encourage Snonyms
Promote
To further the progress of (something, especially a cause, venture, or aim); support or actively encourage.
The program promotes healthy eating and exercise.
Support
To give assistance to, especially financially; enable to function or act.
They support local businesses by shopping locally.
Boost
To help or encourage (something) to increase or improve.
The positive feedback boosted his confidence.
Inspire
To fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.
Her bravery inspired others to speak out.
Foster
To encourage or promote the development of (something, typically something regarded as good).
The teacher fostered a love of reading in her students.
Urge
To try earnestly or persistently to persuade (someone) to do something.
She urged him to apply for the job.
Motivate
To provide someone with a reason for doing something; to inspire with a motive.
The coach's speech motivated the team to improve their performance.
Champion
To defend or support a cause or person; to advocate.
She champions the rights of the underprivileged.
Stimulate
To raise levels of physiological or nervous activity in (the body or any biological system).
The discussion stimulated his interest in the subject.
Nurture
To care for and encourage the growth or development of.
They nurtured their children with love and discipline.
Encourage Idioms & Phrases
Encourage with open arms
To offer wholehearted and enthusiastic support.
The community encouraged new ideas with open arms.
Encourage at every step
To provide support and motivation throughout a process or journey.
Her mentor was there to encourage at every step of her career.
A spirit to encourage
Having an attitude or disposition that inspires others.
Her enthusiastic spirit to encourage lifted the team's morale.
Encourage from the sidelines
Offering support and motivation from a position of observation, not direct involvement.
Parents often encourage from the sidelines at their children's sports events.
Encourage beyond limits
Motivating someone to exceed their perceived limitations.
His coach encouraged him beyond limits, leading to his extraordinary success.
To encourage growth
To support or foster development and progress.
The new policy was designed to encourage economic growth.
Encourage with a smile
Using a positive demeanor to motivate others.
She had the ability to encourage with a smile, even in challenging times.
Encourage for the future
To motivate with a focus on future benefits or success.
His parents always encouraged him for the future, emphasizing long-term goals.
A word to encourage
Offering a brief but effective motivation or support.
Sometimes, all you need is a word to encourage you during tough times.
Encourage in the right direction
To guide or motivate someone towards a positive or suitable path.
Good teachers know how to encourage students in the right direction.
Encourage heart and soul
To give complete and passionate support.
The charity works to encourage heart and soul in their community endeavors.
To encourage against the odds
Supporting someone even when the situation seems unfavorable.
They continued to encourage him against the odds to pursue his dream.
Encourage through actions
To motivate or support others by setting an example with one's actions.
He didn't just talk; he chose to encourage through actions.
A voice to encourage
Someone who speaks out to motivate and inspire others.
She became a voice to encourage change in her community.
Encourage one's dreams
To support someone's aspirations or ambitions.
His family always encouraged his dreams of becoming an artist.
Encourage from within
To find motivation or inspiration from one's inner self.
True change happens when you encourage from within.
To encourage innovation
To support and motivate creative thinking and new ideas.
The company's culture is designed to encourage innovation.
Encourage across the board
Offering support and motivation in all areas or aspects.
The new policies encourage improvement across the board in the organization.
To encourage unity
To foster a sense of togetherness and collaboration.
The leader's speech aimed to encourage unity among the divided groups.
Encourage under pressure
To offer support and motivation even in stressful or challenging situations.
The team managed to encourage each other under pressure during the finals.
Encourage Example Sentences
He encouraged his friend to apologize and make amends.
Her parents always encourage her to pursue her passions.
The team captain would encourage his teammates during tough matches.
Teachers encourage students to ask questions and be curious.
The signs around the park encourage people to keep it clean.
They created programs to encourage healthy eating among children.
She encouraged her brother to try again after his failure.
Parents often encourage their children to share and play fairly.
The community event was organized to encourage local talent.
His speech encouraged the audience to take action on environmental issues.
The company encouraged innovation and new ideas among its employees.
She encouraged her friend to be more confident in public speaking.
The coach encouraged the player to develop her skills further.
The library encouraged reading by hosting a summer book club.
He encouraged his classmates to participate in the science fair.
Common Curiosities
How is encourage used in a sentence?
"Teachers should encourage students to think critically."
Why is it called encourage?
It is called "encourage" because it comes from the Old French word "encoragier," meaning "to make strong, hearten," which in turn is derived from "en-" (make, put in) and "corage" (courage, heart).
How many syllables are in encourage?
There are three syllables in "encourage."
What is a stressed syllable in encourage?
The stressed syllable in "encourage" is "cour."
How do we divide encourage into syllables?
Encourage is divided into syllables as en-cour-age.
What is the first form of encourage?
The first form is "encourage" (present tense).
What is the second form of encourage?
The second form is "encouraged" (past tense).
What is another term for encourage?
Another term for "encourage" is "motivate."
What is the verb form of encourage?
The verb form is "encourage."
What is the singular form of encourage?
As a verb, "encourage" remains the same in both singular and plural subjects.
What is the opposite of encourage?
The opposite of "encourage" is "discourage."
What is the pronunciation of encourage?
Encourage is pronounced as /ɪnˈkɜr.ɪdʒ/ or /ɛnˈkɜr.ɪdʒ/.
Is encourage an adverb?
No, "encourage" is not an adverb.
Is encourage an abstract noun?
"Encourage" is a verb, not a noun, so it cannot be an abstract noun.
Is encourage a collective noun?
No, "encourage" is not a noun and therefore cannot be a collective noun.
Is the word “encourage” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Encourage" is a verb and can take both direct and indirect objects, e.g., "She encouraged him (indirect object) to take the course (direct object)."
What is the root word of encourage?
The root word of "encourage" is the Old French word "corage," meaning courage or heart.
What part of speech is encourage?
"Encourage" is a verb.
What is the plural form of encourage?
As a verb, "encourage" does not change form for plural subjects.
Is encourage a vowel or consonant?
The word "encourage" starts with a vowel sound.
Is the word encourage imperative?
Yes, "encourage" can be used in the imperative form to give a command or encouragement, e.g., "Encourage your team!"
Is encourage a noun or adjective?
"Encourage" is a verb, not a noun or adjective.
Is encourage a countable noun?
"Encourage" is a verb, so it is neither countable nor uncountable.
Is the encourage term a metaphor?
"Encourage" can be used metaphorically in contexts where support or motivation is likened to giving someone strength or courage.
Which conjunction is used with encourage?
Conjunctions like "and," "but," or "or" can be used with "encourage" in complex sentences.
What is the third form of encourage?
The third form is "encouraged" (past participle).
Is encourage a negative or positive word?
"Encourage" is generally considered a positive word.
Is the word encourage Gerund?
The gerund form of "encourage" is "encouraging," which is used as a noun.
Which vowel is used before encourage?
Vowels or articles before verbs depend on the structure of the sentence, not the verb itself. For gerund or infinitive forms, "to encourage" or "encouraging," an article might precede.
Which determiner is used with encourage?
Determiners are not typically used directly with verbs like "encourage."
Which preposition is used with encourage?
Prepositions like "to" or "in" can be used with "encourage," depending on the context, e.g., "encourage to participate" or "encourage in their efforts."
Which article is used with encourage?
Articles are not typically used directly with verbs. However, in the gerund form "encouraging," "the" can be used, e.g., "The encouraging of teammates is important."
Share Your Discovery
Previous Term
Snappy Definition and Meaning
Next Term
Touchdown Definition and MeaningAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
