# empowering

/ɪmˈpaʊɝɪŋ/ (US) · /ɛmpˈaʊəɹɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/empowering
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. giving confidence and power

adjective · CEFR B2

making you feel more confident and in control of your life or situation.

For teachers: serving to provide a person or group with the confidence, authority, or power to act independently.

- Learning how to fix her own car was a very empowering experience for her.
- The new mentorship programme proved deeply empowering for the junior staff, as it gave them the agency to lead their own projects for the first time.

Usage: Often used to describe experiences, speeches, or educational tools.

Teaching tip: This word is very common in modern business and social contexts to describe positive personal growth.

## Examples

- Learning a new skill can be very empowering.
- The workshop was incredibly empowering, giving the participants the tools they needed to start their own businesses.
- The shift toward patient-centered care is fundamentally empowering, as it encourages individuals to take an active role in their medical decisions rather than passively following instructions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.