Word
encouraging
Meanings
Giving support, confidence, or hope; motivating someone to continue.
Showing signs that progress or success is likely; promising.
Definition
Giving someone confidence, hope, or support to continue.
Encouraging describes words, actions, or attitudes that make someone feel more confident and willing to keep going. It often involves praise, reassurance, or practical support, especially when a task is difficult. It can describe people, comments, feedback, or signs of progress that improve motivation.
Examples
- Her encouraging email helped me revise the proposal with a clearer head.
- The coach gave an encouraging nod when you hesitated at the starting line.
- His encouraging feedback made the team more willing to test a bolder approach.
- Their encouraging response to the pilot session convinced us to expand the project.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse encouraging (supportive) with encouraged (feeling supported), e.g., say "I am encouraging" when they mean "I feel encouraged."
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.