encourage

Verb

• contribute to the progress or growth of
• inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to
• spur on
  • "His financial success encouraged him to look for a wife"
• To mentally support; to motivate, give courage, hope or spirit.
• To spur on, strongly recommend.
• To foster, give help or patronage.

Examples

• Delia's coach encouraged her to focus on the positives.
• I encouraged him during his race.
• The royal family has always encouraged the arts in word and deed.
• We encourage the use of bicycles in the town centre.
• We encourage you to cycle instead of taking the car.

Synonyms

advance, boost, further, promote, abet, actuate, admonish, advise, advocate, bield, bring about, cheer, counsel, drive, egg on, embolden, encourage, engender, evoke, excite, exhort, feed, foment, foster, goad, grill, grow, hearten, ignite, impel, incite, induce, inflame, instigate, invoke, lash, motivate, motive, move, nurture, obligate, oblige, prompt, provoke, push, raise, recommend, rouse, send, set off, spark off, spur, spur on, stimulate, sting, stir, stir up, stoke, suggest, tempt, tip, urge, warn, whet, whip up

Antonyms

discourage, dishearten

Related Words

courage