ENGLISH
REFERENCE

encouraged

v.
B1 Intermediate US //ɛnˈkɝɪdʒd// UK //ɛnkˈʌɹɪdʒd// en·cour·aged

v. to give someone confidence or hope so they feel like they can do something. You can also use it to describe when you suggest a good path for someone to take.

v. to inspire with confidence, spirit, or hope; to spur on or stimulate through assistance or approval. Often used in the passive voice to describe a recommended course of action.


SIMPLE

My teacher encouraged me to apply for the new job.

CONTEXTUAL

The government encouraged citizens to save water during the long, dry summer months.

COMPLEX

While the mentor encouraged her protégé to pursue independent research, she also cautioned against neglecting the foundational theories that underpinned their current project.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and frequently follows the pattern 'encourage someone to do something'.

Pitfall

She encouraged me for studyingShe encouraged me to studyEncourage is followed by an object and a to-infinitive, not the preposition 'for' with a gerund.

© 2026 English Reference