Encourage
/ɪnˈkʌɹ.ɪd͡ʒ/ verb
verb ·Common ·High school level
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To mentally support; to motivate, give courage, hope or spirit. transitive
"I encouraged him during his race."
- 2 spur on wordnet
- 3 To spur on, strongly recommend. transitive
"We encourage the use of bicycles in the town centre."
- 4 inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to wordnet
- 5 To foster, give help or patronage. transitive
"The royal family has always encouraged the arts in word and deed."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 contribute to the progress or growth of wordnet
Example
More examples"It is necessary for you to go and encourage the girl."
Etymology
From Middle English encouragen, encoragen, from Anglo-Norman encoragier, from Old French encoragier. Displaced native Old English hiertan, tyhtan, and trymman. By surface analysis, en- + courage.