'Encouraging' definitions:

Definition of 'encouraging'

From: WordNet
adjective
Giving courage or confidence or hope; "encouraging advances in medical research" [ant: discouraging]
adjective
Furnishing support and encouragement; "the anxious child needs supporting and accepting treatment from the teacher" [syn: encouraging, supporting]

Definition of 'Encouraging'

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]

Definition of 'Encouraging'

From: GCIDE
  • Encouraging \En*cour"a*ging\, a. Furnishing ground to hope; inspiriting; favoring. -- {En*cour"a*ging*ly}, adv. [1913 Webster]