# encourage

Pronunciation: US say "in-KUR-ij" /ɪnˈkɝ.ɪd͡ʒ/; UK say "in-KU-rij" /ɪnˈkʌɹ.ɪd͡ʒ/

## Verb

1. To give someone mental support, courage, hope, or confidence to keep going.
   - Simple: To give someone courage, hope, or confidence to keep going.
   - _Good teachers encourage students who are afraid to ask questions._
   - _His mentor encouraged him through the hardest months of his recovery._
2. To urge someone toward an action by strongly recommending that they take it.
   - Simple: To tell someone you really think they should do something.
   - _Financial advisors encourage clients to start saving early._
   - _The committee encouraged residents to attend the public meeting._
3. To foster the growth or success of something by giving it help, money, or backing.
   - Simple: To help something grow by giving it support or money.
   - _Subsidies encourage farming in regions that would otherwise be abandoned._
   - _The foundation encouraged the arts through generous annual grants._

## Origin

This word came from Middle English encouragen, which came from Anglo-Norman encoragier, from Old French encoragier. By its parts it is en- plus courage, and it replaced the native Old English words hiertan, tyhtan, and trymman.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/encourage (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).