encourageencourageencouragesencouragedencouragingverb (encourages, encouraging, encouraged)to give somebody hope or help so that they do something or continue doing something: We encouraged him to write a book about his adventures.oppositediscourage▶ encouragementencouragementencouragementsnoun (no plural): Kim's parents have always given her a lot of encouragement.▶ encouragingadjective: Ann's school report is very encouraging.