'Encourage' definitions:
Definition of 'encourage'
From: WordNet
verb
Contribute to the progress or growth of; "I am promoting the use of computers in the classroom" [syn: promote, advance, boost, further, encourage]
verb
Inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to [ant: discourage]
verb
Spur on; "His financial success encouraged him to look for a wife"
Definition of 'Encourage'
From: GCIDE
- Encourage \En*cour"age\ (?; 48), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encouraged (?; 48); p. pr. & vb. n. Encouraging.] [F. encourager; pref. en- (L. in) + courage courage. See Courage.] To give courage to; to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope; to raise, or to increase, the confidence of; to animate; enhearten; to incite; to help forward; -- the opposite of discourage. [1913 Webster]
- David encouraged himself in the Lord. --1 Sam. xxx. 6.
- Syn: To embolden; inspirit; animate; enhearten; hearten; incite; cheer; urge; impel; stimulate; instigate; countenance; comfort; promote; advance; forward; strengthen. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'encourage'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abet,
- admonish,
- advance,
- advantage,
- advocate,
- aid,
- aid and abet,
- animate,
- ask for,
- assist,
- assure,
- bear up,
- bolster,
- boost,
- brace up,
- brighten,
- buck up,
- buoy up,
- caution,
- charge,
- cheer,
- cheer up,
- chirk up,
- comfort,
- condole with,
- conduce to,
- console,
- contribute to,
- countenance,
- ease,
- egg on,
- embolden,
- endorse,
- enjoin,
- enliven,
- exhilarate,
- exhort,
- expedite,
- expostulate,
- facilitate,
- favor,
- feed,
- forward,
- foster,
- further,
- give a lift,
- give comfort,
- give encouragement,
- gladden,
- go for,
- hasten,
- hearten,
- help,
- incite,
- induce,
- inspire,
- inspirit,
- invigorate,
- invite,
- issue a caveat,
- keep in countenance,
- lend wings to,
- liven,
- make for,
- move,
- nerve,
- nourish,
- nurture,
- pep up,
- persuade,
- pick up,
- preach,
- promote,
- prompt,
- push forward,
- put at ease,
- put forward,
- quicken,
- reassure,
- rejoice,
- rejoice the heart,
- relieve,
- remonstrate,
- set at ease,
- set forward,
- shine upon,
- smile upon,
- solace,
- speed,
- stimulate,
- subscribe,
- subsidize,
- support,
- sympathize with,
- urge,
- vitalize,
- warn