empower
verb
em·pow·er
im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r 
empowered; empowering; empowers
1
: to give official authority or legal power to
empowered her attorney to act on her behalf
2
: enable sense 1a
… nootropic agents empower the lower amounts of acetylcholine in diseased brains to work overtime …—
Science News
Science News3
: to promote the self-actualization or influence of
The American women's movement has been inspiring and empowering women for nearly 20 years …—Ron Hansen
Ron HansenMembers of our discipline often envision themselves as agents of social change who try to promote critique of dominant ideologies and empower students to become active participants in the larger political world.—Christy Friend
Christy FriendExamples of empower in a Sentence
seeking changes in the workplace that will empower women
the federal agency empowered to collect taxes
Recent Examples on the Web
As a visionary leader and educator, she is dedicated to empowering the next generation of future female leaders.
—Danaya Wilson, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Alison Conigliaro-Hubbard empowers individuals to break free from reactive habits, embrace intentional leadership, and take control of their narratives.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025
One of the key initiatives was empowering the D.C. Attorney General to bring civil lawsuits against drivers who racked up egregious infractions and fines — regardless of where they're registered.
—Anna Spiegel, Axios, 21 Feb. 2025
Thanks to land granted by Clark County, the precinct will empower the entertainment professionals, hospitality workers and first responders serving the tourist town, plus inspire and educate future stars of The Strip.
—Leena Tailor, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for empower
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Danaya Wilson, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025
Alison Conigliaro-Hubbard empowers individuals to break free from reactive habits, embrace intentional leadership, and take control of their narratives.
—Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2025
One of the key initiatives was empowering the D.C. Attorney General to bring civil lawsuits against drivers who racked up egregious infractions and fines — regardless of where they're registered.
—Anna Spiegel, Axios, 21 Feb. 2025
Thanks to land granted by Clark County, the precinct will empower the entertainment professionals, hospitality workers and first responders serving the tourist town, plus inspire and educate future stars of The Strip.
—Leena Tailor, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for empower
Cite this Entry
“Empower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empower. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
empower
verb
em·pow·er
im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r
: to give official authority or legal power to
Legal Definition
empower
transitive verb
em·pow·er
im-ˈpau̇-ər
: to give official authority or legal power to
no branch of government should be empowered unilaterally to impose a serious penalty—L. H. Tribe
L. H. TribeLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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