Word
encourage
Phoneticsen·cour·age
US/ɛnˈkɝɪdʒ/
UK/ɛnkˈʌɹɪdʒ/
Definitions
01to give confidence
v. to give someone hope or confidence so they feel they can succeed.
v. to provide someone with the courage, spirit, or confidence necessary to pursue a goal.
“My parents always encouraged me to follow my dreams, even when things were difficult.”
“The mentor's positive feedback encouraged the young researcher to persevere with her experiments despite the initial setbacks.”
Usage
Takes a direct object followed by a 'to-infinitive' clause.
Pitfall
My teacher encouraged me for studying harder.
My teacher encouraged me to study harder.
The verb 'encourage' is followed by an object and a 'to-infinitive', not the preposition 'for'.
Antonyms
02to recommend or spur on
v. to suggest that someone should do something because it is a good idea.
v. to strongly recommend a specific course of action or to spur someone toward a decision.
“The doctor encouraged him to eat more vegetables and exercise every day.”
“The government is encouraging citizens to switch to electric vehicles by offering significant tax incentives and subsidies.”
Antonyms
03to foster or help grow
v. to help something happen or develop.
v. to promote, foster, or stimulate the development and growth of a process or activity.
“The new laws were designed to encourage investment in small businesses.”
“Warm weather and high humidity encourage the growth of various types of fungi in the forest.”
Etymology
From Middle English encouragen, encoragen, from Anglo-Norman encoragier, from Old French encoragier. Displaced native Old English hiertan, tyhtan, and trymman. By surface analysis, en- + courage.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.