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Verb: encourage  in'kur-ij or in'kú-rij or en'kur-ij [N. Amer], in'kú-rij or en'kú-rij [Brit]
  1. Contribute to the progress or growth of
    "I am encouraging the use of computers in the classroom";
    - promote, advance, boost, further
     
  2. Inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to
     
  3. Spur on
    "His financial success encouraged him to look for a wife"
     
  4. Push for something
    - recommend, urge, advocate

Derived forms: encouraging, encourages, encouraged

Type of: advise, animate, back up, cause, enliven, exalt, get, have, induce, inspire, invigorate, make, propose, stimulate, suggest, support

Antonym: discourage

Encyclopedia: Encourage