Encourage Encouraged Greatly Actively People Claim Computer Games

• my parents have always encouraged me in my choice of career.
• we were greatly encouraged by the positive response of the public.
• banks actively encouraged people to borrow money.
• they claim that some computer games encourage violent behaviour in young children.

encourage

1. to give somebody support, courage or hope
• My parents have always encouraged me in my choice of career.
• We were greatly encouraged by the positive response of the public.
2. to persuade somebody to do something by making it easier for them and making them believe it is a good thing to do
• Banks actively encouraged people to borrow money.
3. to make something more likely to happen or develop
• They claim that some computer games encourage violent behaviour in young children.
• Music and lighting are used to encourage shoppers to buy more.
• Technology encourages multitasking.

Extra Examples

• Newspapers should not publish material that is likely to encourage discrimination on the grounds of race or colour.
• She especially encouraged young scientists.
• Speaking your mind is highly encouraged at these sessions.
• The government must actively encourage investment in these areas.
• These questions are designed to encourage debate.
• We were greatly encouraged by the support we received.
• ‘Good girl, you’re doing fine,’ he encouraged her.
• Do toy guns encourage aggression?
• Music and special lighting are used to encourage shoppers to spend more.
• Programmes like this just encourage stereotyping.
• The aim of the campaign is to encourage youngsters not to smoke.
• The new measures are designed to encourage more people to cycle.
• The treaty is aimed at encouraging cooperation between Member States.
• They claim that some computer games encourage violent behaviour in children.
• We’re looking at ways to encourage recycling.

Verb Forms

• present simple I / you / we / they encourage
• he / she / it encourages
• past simple encouraged
• past participle encouraged
• -ing form encouraging

Word Origin

• Middle English (formerly also as incourage): from French encourager, from en- ‘in’ + corage ‘courage’.