Dictionary entry details
• ENCOURAGE (verb)
Meaning:
Contribute to the progress or growth of
Classified under:
Verbs of political and social activities and events
Synonyms:
encourage; promote; further; boost; advance
Context example:
I am promoting the use of computers in the classroom
Hypernyms (to "encourage" is one way to...):
back up; support (give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "encourage"):
feed (support or promote)
carry (take further or advance)
help (contribute to the furtherance of)
spur (incite or stimulate)
foster; further (promote the growth of)
connive at; wink at (give one's silent approval to)
conduce; contribute; lead (be conducive to)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something
Sentence example:
They encourage him to write the letter
Meaning:
Inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to
Classified under:
Verbs of feeling
Hypernyms (to "encourage" is one way to...):
animate; enliven; exalt; inspire; invigorate (heighten or intensify)
Cause:
hope (be optimistic; be full of hope; have hopes)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "encourage"):
barrack; cheer; exhort; inspire; pep up; urge; urge on (urge on or encourage especially by shouts)
goad; spur (give heart or courage to)
bring out (encourage to be less reserved)
draw out (make more sociable)
cheer; embolden; hearten; recreate (give encouragement to)
hollo (encourage somebody by crying hollo)
foster; nurture (help develop, help grow)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Sentence example:
The good news will encourage her
Antonym:
discourage (deprive of courage or hope; take away hope from; cause to feel discouraged)
Meaning:
Spur on
Classified under:
Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing
Context example:
His financial success encouraged him to look for a wife
Hypernyms (to "encourage" is one way to...):
cause; get; have; induce; make; stimulate (cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s somebody to INFINITIVE
Sentence example:
They encourage him to write the letter
