encourage

About 22.19 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To mentally support; to motivate, give courage, hope or spirit.

   I encouraged him during his race.

2. verb To spur on, strongly recommend.

   We encourage the use of bicycles in the town centre.

3. verb To foster, give help or patronage.

   The royal family has always encouraged the arts in word and deed.

Similar words

further advance promote boost motivating hearten drive encouragement incentive motivate

Often followed by

the them a and him you students their people her

Word family

encouraged encourager encouragers encourages encouraging