Nearby Words
verb (used with object), en·cour·aged, en·cour·ag·ing.
1.
to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence: His coach encouraged him throughout the marathon race to keep on running.
2.
to stimulate by assistance, approval, etc.: One of the chief duties of a teacher is to encourage students.
3.
to promote, advance, or foster: Poverty often encourages crime.
Origin:
1400–50; late Middle English encoragen < Anglo-French, Middle French encorag(i)er. See en-1, courage
1400–50; late Middle English encoragen < Anglo-French, Middle French encorag(i)er. See en-1, courage
Related forms
en·cour·ag·er, noun
en·cour·ag·ing·ly, adverb
o·ver·en·cour·age, verb (used with object), o·ver·en·cour·aged, o·ver·en·cour·ag·ing.
pre·en·cour·age, verb (used with object), pre·en·cour·aged, pre·en·cour·ag·ing.
re·en·cour·age, verb (used with object), re·en·cour·aged, re·en·cour·ag·ing.
EXPANDSynonyms
1. embolden, hearten, reassure. 2. urge; support, aid, help.
1. embolden, hearten, reassure. 2. urge; support, aid, help.
Antonyms
1. discourage, dishearten.
1. discourage, dishearten.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Encourage
is one of our favorite verbs.
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| chat, to converse |
| to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. |
Collins
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
encourage
late 15c., from O.Fr. encouragier, from en- "make, put in" + corage (see courage).
EXPAND"As a general rule, Providence seldom vouchsafes to mortals any more than just that degree of encouragement which suffices to keep them at a reasonably full exertion of their powers." [Nathaniel Hawthorne]Related: Encouraged; encouraging.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Word Dynamo Rating For Encourage
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