encourage
verb
en·cour·age
in-ˈkər-ij 
-ˈkə-rij,
en-
encouraged; encouraging
1
2
: to spur on : stimulate
warm weather encourages plant growth
3
: to give help or patronage to : foster
government grants designed to encourage conservation
encourager
noun
Examples of encourage in a Sentence
They encouraged us in our work.
Encourage each other with kind words.
The program is meant to encourage savings.
Warm weather encourages plant growth.
He claims the new regulations will encourage investment.
He claims the new regulations will encourage people to invest.
We want to encourage students to read more.
My parents encouraged me to go back to college.
They encouraged her to go.
Recent Examples on the Web
But the internet encourages the transformation of antipathy into creative fodder, and enables its dissemination.
—
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2025
Officials encourage Carolinians to stay informed through official emergency sources and call 911 to report any immediate threats.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
Nope, although Google does encourage all users to switch from passwords and traditional 2FA to the use of passkeys, of course.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
And the brand’s neem oil and liquid fertilizer are my go-tos for encouraging healthy growth.
—Urmila Ramakrishnan, Bon Appétit, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encourage
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2025
Officials encourage Carolinians to stay informed through official emergency sources and call 911 to report any immediate threats.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
Nope, although Google does encourage all users to switch from passwords and traditional 2FA to the use of passkeys, of course.
—Davey Winder, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
And the brand’s neem oil and liquid fertilizer are my go-tos for encouraging healthy growth.
—Urmila Ramakrishnan, Bon Appétit, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for encourage
Cite this Entry
“Encourage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encourage. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
encourage
verb
en·cour·age
in-ˈkər-ij
-ˈkə-rij
encouraged; encouraging
1
a
: to cause to feel courage, spirit, or hope
encouraged by her kind words
b
: to try to persuade
encouraged him to go back to school
2
: to spur on : stimulate
3
: to give help to : foster
government grants to encourage young artists
warm weather encourages plant growth
encouragement
noun
-mənt
encouragingly
adverb
-ij-iŋ-lē
-rij-
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share