discourage

/dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒ/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪsˈkɜːrɪdʒ/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈskər-ij -ˈskə-rij/ (ame, mw)

discourage — verb

1. to make a person feel less hopeful, eager, or confident about doing something —

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to make a person feel less hopeful, eager, or confident about doing something — for example, when a single failure discourages a beginner from trying again.

例句

Jack's teacher discouraged him from giving up by praising every small improvement he made.

discourage someone from + V-ing

The team felt deeply discouraged after losing three matches in a row by narrow margins.

passive: feel discouraged

同義詞
  • dishearten

    more literary; suggests a deeper loss of hope or spirit over time

  • demoralize

    stronger; implies destruction of morale, often in a group context

  • daunt

    focuses on making someone feel intimidated or unable to start

  • dampen

    softer; suggests reducing enthusiasm without fully removing it

反義詞
  • encourage

    the direct opposite in both senses

  • hearten

    formal; to give someone renewed confidence

  • inspire

    stronger; to fill someone with the desire to do something

文法句型

discourage + someone

discourage + someone + from + V-ing

be discouraged + by/with + noun

用法筆記

Frequently used in the passive (be/get discouraged by/with something). Both senses use the pattern 'discourage + someone + from + V-ing', but in sense 1 the focus is on the emotional effect (loss of hope or confidence), not on blocking the action.

常見錯誤

❌The bad news discouraged him to continue.
✅The bad news discouraged him from continuing.
💡'discourage' always takes 'from + V-ing', never 'to + infinitive'.
❌She discouraged that he try again.
✅She discouraged him from trying again.
💡'discourage' cannot introduce a that-clause; use 'from + V-ing' instead.

2. to try to stop a particular action or habit, typically by creating obstacles, im

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to try to stop a particular action or habit, typically by creating obstacles, imposing costs, or expressing strong disapproval — for example, locking a gate at night to discourage trespassing.

例句

The city installed speed bumps to discourage drivers from speeding on residential streets.

discourage someone from + V-ing

Stefan's boss discouraged casual conversation during working hours to keep the team focused.

discourage + noun (general activity)

同義詞
  • deter

    closest match; focuses on the result of making someone decide not to act

  • dissuade

    more personal; involves reasoning or argument rather than obstacles

  • prevent

    stronger; implies successfully stopping something, not just trying

  • inhibit

    formal; suggests a restraint on natural behavior or processes

反義詞
  • encourage

    the direct opposite in both senses

  • promote

    to actively support or help something grow

  • facilitate

    formal; to make something easier to do

文法句型

discourage + something

discourage + someone + from + V-ing

discourage + V-ing

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1, which focuses on an emotional impact, this sense describes deliberate efforts to block or reduce an action. The subject is often an institution, rule, or system (laws, schools, policies). The object is typically an unwanted behavior (smoking, speeding, vandalism, cheating).

常見錯誤

❌The school discourages students to cheat.
✅The school discourages students from cheating.
💡'discourage' always takes 'from + V-ing', never 'to + infinitive'.
❌The new rules discouraged cheating from happening.
✅The new rules discouraged cheating.' or 'The new rules discouraged students from cheating.
💡'discourage' already contains the idea of prevention; 'from happening' is redundant.