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⇱ encouragement - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

encouragement

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒmənt/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(en kûr′ij mənt, -kur′-)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
en•cour•age•ment  (en kûr′ij mənt, -kur′-),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. the act of encouraging.
  2. the state of being encouraged.
  3. something that encourages:Praise is the greatest encouragement.
  • encourage + -ment 1560–70
    3. . praise, support, boost, lift, endorsement.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
en•cour•age /ɛnˈkɜrɪdʒ, -ˈkʌr-/USA pronunciation   v., -aged, -ag•ing. 
  1. to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence to do something: [~ + object]She encouraged him with kind words throughout the ordeal.[~ + object + to + verb]Letters of support encouraged the mayor to run again.
  2. to stimulate by guidance, approval, etc.:[~ + object]Your faith encourages me.
  3. to foster;
    help bring about:[~ + object]Such unkind remarks only encourage prejudice.
en•cour•age•ment, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
en•cour•age  (en kûr′ij, -kur′-),USA pronunciation v.t., -aged, -ag•ing. 
  1. to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence:His coach encouraged him throughout the marathon race to keep on running.
  2. to stimulate by assistance, approval, etc.:One of the chief duties of a teacher is to encourage students.
  3. to promote, advance, or foster:Poverty often encourages crime.
  • Anglo-French, Middle French encorag(i)er. See en-1, courage
  • late Middle English encoragen 1400–50
en•cour′ag•er, n. 
en•cour′ag•ing•ly, adv. 
    1. embolden, hearten, reassure. 2. urge; support, aid, help.
    1. discourage, dishearten.
'encouragement' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: [huge, great] encouragement, has been a [huge] encouragement (to), [undying, loyal, loving, constant] encouragement, more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "encouragement" in the title:

Ali‘s winning invention was -sparked-by the endless encouragement of her parents.
and it would be incumbent on her toavoid any encouragement of his
coupling <it> with encouragement
either their parents encouragement or if not hard financial difficulties...
Encouragement <of>?
encouragement prize?? is that proper?
Guys don’t need any encouragement—left to themselves, they still die and sleep with girls
had every encouragement to be Individualists
have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement
Inspiration vs. Encouragement
It may also be about expectations and encouragement.
Me. Given an ounce of encouragement.
meet with some encouragement
my father's encouragement
No railroad in the world deserves greater encouragement
promotion or encouragement...
space triggering encouragement
Study Encouragement Program
thanks for encouragement
the constant encouragement and support
there is little encouragement to be found in those postcolonial African regimes
to encourage or as encouragement
warm encouragement
Your encouragement <has> enabled me,..

Look up "encouragement" at Merriam-Webster
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