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en‧cour‧age S2 W1
[transitive]
[transitive]1 to give someone the courage or confidence to do something [≠ discourage]: I want to thank everyone who has encouraged and supported me.
I want to thank everyone who has encouraged and supported me.2 to persuade someone to do something [≠ discourage]:
encourage somebody to do something A 10p rise in cigarette prices is not enough to encourage smokers to stop.
A 10p rise in cigarette prices is not enough to encourage smokers to stop.3 to make something more likely to exist, happen, or develop : Violent TV programmes encourage anti-social behaviour.
Violent TV programmes encourage anti-social behaviour. —encouraged adjective [not before noun] She felt encouraged by the many letters of support.
She felt encouraged by the many letters of support.