What does encouraged mean?
"Encouraged" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "encourage," meaning to give someone support, confidence, or hope, or to help something develop or grow. It is used both transitively — as when a mentor encourages a student to apply for a scholarship — and in passive or adjectival constructions, as when investors feel encouraged by good financial results. The word carries a strongly positive connotation of uplift, reassurance, and motivation, and it appears across all registers, from casual conversation to formal business writing. Derived from Old French "corage" and ultimately the Latin "cor," meaning "heart," it literally conveys the idea of putting heart into another person. Its opposite is "discouraged." Related forms include "encouraging," "encouragement," and "encouragingly."
Past simple and past participle of "encourage": gave someone confidence, hope, or support; stimulated the development of something.
"The teacher encouraged every student to ask questions freely."
Often followed by a personal object plus infinitive ("encouraged her to try again") or by a noun denoting an activity ("encouraged innovation").
Feeling heartened or hopeful as a result of support, praise, or favorable news.
"She was encouraged by how quickly the treatment was working."
Typically used predicatively, especially in the pattern "encouraged by + noun." Less commonly used attributively before a noun.
Every time you say "encouraged," you're literally handing someone a piece of your own heart — it comes from Latin "cor," meaning heart.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of encouraged
"Encouraged" derives from the verb "encourage," which entered English from Old French "encoragier," built on "corage" (heart, spirit) and ultimately the Latin "cor," meaning heart. The verb has been in English since at least the 15th century, retaining its literal sense of instilling heart or courage into someone. Cognates include "courage," "courageous," and "discourage," all sharing the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How encouraged is actually used
Commonly used in both active voice ("she encouraged him") and passive/stative constructions ("he was encouraged by her words"). The adjectival use often appears in phrases like "feeling encouraged" or "encouraged by" results, news, or progress. Register is neutral — suitable for formal, professional, and everyday contexts alike.
Easily confused with encouraged
"Discouraged" means deprived of confidence or hope — nearly the opposite of "encouraged," which means given confidence or hope.