Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - encourage

(encourages, encouraging, encouraged) Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English. 1. If you encourage someone, you give them confidence, for example by letting them know that what they are doing is good and telling them that they should continue to do it. When things aren’t going well, he encourages me, telling me not to give up. VERB: V n 2. If someone is encouraged by something that happens, it gives them hope or confidence. Investors were encouraged by the news... VERB: usu passive, be V-ed by n • encouraged We were very encouraged, after over 17,000 pictures were submitted... I am encouraged that more physicians are asking questions in these meetings and coming to workshops. ADJ: v-link ADJ, oft ADJ that 3. If you encourage someone to do something, you try to persuade them to do it, for example by telling them that it would be a pleasant thing to do, or by trying to make it easier for them to do it. You can also encourage an activity. Herbie Hancock was encouraged by his family to learn music at a young age... Participation is encouraged at all levels. VERB: V n to-inf, V n 4. If something encourages a particular activity or state, it causes it to happen or increase. ...a natural substance that encourages cell growth... Slow music encourages supermarket-shoppers to browse longer but spend more. VERB: V n, V n to-inf