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
The goal of the tax subsidies was to encourage more Americans to save for retirement.
—
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
To Thomas, the phrase is meant to encourage people to not give up on democracy.
—Harriet Blair Rowan, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
This is achieved through proper irrigation, mowing, and fertilization to encourage healthy plant development.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025
Find out what experts recommend to encourage tulip bulbs to bloom again next year.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 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.
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
To Thomas, the phrase is meant to encourage people to not give up on democracy.
—Harriet Blair Rowan, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025
This is achieved through proper irrigation, mowing, and fertilization to encourage healthy plant development.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 19 Apr. 2025
Find out what experts recommend to encourage tulip bulbs to bloom again next year.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Apr. 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 22 Apr. 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