encourage

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Etymology

From Middle English encouragen, encoragen, from Anglo-Norman encoragier, from Old French encoragier.

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ɪnˈkʌɹ.ɪd͡ʒ/
• (America) IPA: /ɪnˈkʌɹ.ɪd͡ʒ/, /ɪnˈkɝ.ɪd͡ʒ/

Verb

encourage (encourages, present participle encouraging; simple past and past participle encouraged) (transitive)

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. To foster, give help or patronage

   The royal family has always encouraged the arts in word and deed.

Synonyms

• bield
• embolden

Antonyms

• discourage

Related terms

• courage

Translations

• French: encourager
• German: ermutigen, ermuntern
• Italian: incoraggiare
• Portuguese: encorajar, incentivar
• Russian: ободря́ть
• Spanish: animar, alentar, estimular, promover, motivar, arengar, suscitar

Translations

• French: encourager
• German: empfehlen
• Italian: raccomandare, esortare
• Portuguese: recomendar
• Russian: поощря́ть
• Spanish: recomendar, alentar

Translations

• Italian: favorire
• Spanish: patrocinar

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