encouragement

Everyday

1. Encouragement is words or actions that give someone confidence and hope to keep going or try something. tree →
2. Encouragement can also mean making something more likely to happen. tree →

In the lessons

In school and sport, teachers, coaches and friends give encouragement; in stories a kind word of encouragement helps a hero go on. Phrases: «words of encouragement», «give encouragement», «with a little encouragement», «shout encouragement».

Examples

• The crowd shouted encouragement to the runners. tree →
• With a little encouragement, Tom jumped into the pool. tree →
• My teacher's encouragement helped me finish the hard sum. tree →
• She wrote a note of encouragement to her friend. tree →
• A smile can be a kind of encouragement. tree →
• Thanks for the encouragement; I'll try again. tree →
• The plants grew well with a bit of encouragement from the sun and water. tree →
• ‘When anyone is as beautiful as you,’ said the shirt-collar, ‘is not that encouragement enough?’ tree →

Note

Usually uncountable: «a lot of encouragement», not «encouragements». Verb: «encourage»; adjective: «encouraging». Opposite: «discouragement». Spelling: encourage + ment, keep the «e».