Encourage: meaning, definitions and examples

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encourage

 

[ ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ ]

Verb / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Verb

to inspire

To encourage means to inspire someone with the courage, spirit, or confidence to do something. It involves giving support, approval, or hope.

Synonyms

inspire, motivate, support, uplift.

Examples of usage

  • She always encouraged her children to pursue their dreams.
  • His positive attitude encouraged the team to work harder.
Context #2 | Verb

to promote

To encourage can also mean to promote the development or growth of something, such as a behavior, activity, or idea.

Synonyms

advance, foster, promote, stimulate.

Examples of usage

  • The government encourages citizens to recycle by providing incentives.
  • The teacher encourages creativity in her students.
Context #3 | Noun

support

Encouragement can also refer to the act of giving support, confidence, or hope to someone.

Synonyms

boost, motivation, reassurance, support.

Examples of usage

  • She appreciated the encouragement she received from her friends.
  • His words of encouragement helped her through a difficult time.

Translations

Translations of the word "encourage" in other languages:

🇵🇹 encorajar

🇮🇳 प्रोत्साहित करना

🇩🇪 ermutigen

🇮🇩 mendorong

🇺🇦 заохочувати

🇵🇱 zachęcać

🇯🇵 励ます (はげます)

🇫🇷 encourager

🇪🇸 animar

🇹🇷 cesaretlendirmek

🇰🇷 격려하다 (gyeonglyeohada)

🇸🇦 تشجيع

🇨🇿 povzbuzovat

🇸🇰 povzbudzovať

🇨🇳 鼓励 (gǔlì)

🇸🇮 spodbujati

🇮🇸 hvetja

🇰🇿 ынталандыру

🇬🇪 წახალისება

🇦🇿 həvəsləndirmək

🇲🇽 animar

Etymology

The word 'encourage' originated from the Old French word 'encoragier', which means 'to make strong, hearten'. It entered the English language in the 15th century. The prefix 'en-' signifies 'to put into' or 'make', while 'corage' comes from the Latin 'cor', meaning 'heart'. Over time, 'encourage' has evolved to encompass the ideas of inspiring, promoting, and supporting others.

See also: courage, courageous, courageously, discourage, discouraged, discouragement.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,577, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.