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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

How to Use Encourage: Definition & Usage (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：give support (encourage)

encourage 🔊

/ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ/

to support someone with words or actions, making them feel confident to do something.

Encourage definition illustrated by teacher supporting student with basketball

give support 🔊

➕

/ɡɪv səˈpɔːrt/

To offer assistance or approval that helps someone feel more confident and willing to do something.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：初级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old French 'encoragier': 'en-' (into) + 'corage' (courage).

💡 Mnemonic

En + courage: Imagine adding courage to someone like a power-up.

📖 Example

My yoga teacher always encourages me to try the difficult poses, even when I feel unsure. 🔊 My yoga teacher always gives me support to try the difficult poses when I feel unsure.

🔗 Collocations

encourage effort – to praise or support attempts

encourage confidence – to build self-assurance

encourage teamwork – to promote cooperative work

🔄 Synonyms

support (v.) – to give assistance or backing

motivate (v.) – to provide a motive or incentive

inspire (v.) – to fill with the urge or ability to do something

🚫 Antonyms

discourage (v.) – to cause someone to lose confidence or enthusiasm

deter (v.) – to discourage someone from acting by instilling doubt or fear

🌱 Derivatives

encouragement (n.) – the action of giving support or confidence

encouraging (adj.) – giving hope or confidence

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Old French 'encoragier', meaning to instill courage. Historically linked to giving heart. Today, commonly used in education and leadership to foster confidence and action.

Meaning 2：promote (encourage)

encourage 🔊

/ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒ/

to make a good thing more likely to happen or become common by creating helpful conditions.

Encourage meaning shown as promoting sustainable urban development with bike lanes

promote 🔊

➕

/prəˈmoʊt/

To create conditions that make a desirable activity or outcome more likely to occur.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：中级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The city's new policy aims to encourage the use of public transportation by making it cheaper and more convenient. 🔊 The city's new policy aims to promote the use of public transportation by making it cheaper and more convenient.

🔗 Collocations

encourage innovation – to foster new ideas or methods

encourage sustainability – to support environmentally friendly practices

encourage investment – to attract financial support

🔄 Synonyms

promote (v.) – to help the progress or growth of something

foster (v.) – to encourage the development of something

stimulate (v.) – to encourage activity or growth

🚫 Antonyms

hinder (v.) – to create difficulties for the progress of something

discourage (v.) – to try to prevent something from happening

🌱 Derivatives

encouragement (n.) – the action of giving support or confidence

encouraging (adj.) – giving hope or confidence