encourages

Verb

encourage (third-person singular simple present encourages, present participle encouraging, simple past and past participle encouraged)

1. (transitive) To mentally support; to motivate, give courage, hope or spirit.
   • I encouraged him during his race.

   Synonyms:

   bield, embolden, hearten, abet, actuate, goose, fuel, light a fire under, send, sting

   Antonyms:

   discourage, dishearten

2. (transitive) To spur on, strongly recommend.
   • We encourage the use of bicycles in the town centre.

   Synonyms:

   exhort, admonish, adjure, advise, advocate, counsel, urge, prompt, recommend, suggest

3. (transitive) To foster, give help or patronage.
   • The royal family has always encouraged the arts in word and deed.

   Synonyms:

   promote, foster, feed, grow, culture, cultivate, raise