WordWeb Online

1. Contribute to the progress or growth of
   - 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"

Derived forms: encourages, encouraging, encouraged

See also: encouragement

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

Antonym: discourage