empowering
empowering — adjective
1. making people feel more sure of themselves and more able to shape what happens i
making people feel more sure of themselves and more able to shape what happens in their lives
The workshop was empowering for teens who had never spoken in public.
empowering for + group
After the pay raise, Romi found it empowering to manage the family budget.
find it empowering to + verb
Hearing survivors tell their stories made the school assembly deeply empowering.
Putri called the climbing course empowering after reaching the top alone.
- encouraging
broader and less focused on personal control or agency
- affirming
stresses emotional support and validation
- uplifting
focuses more on mood than on gaining power to act
- liberating
stronger and often suggests being freed from a limit
- discouraging
making someone feel less willing to act
- disempowering
direct opposite that takes away confidence or control
- limiting
stresses reduced freedom or possibility
文法句型
be empowering for + person/group
find it empowering to + verb
call something empowering
用法筆記
Often used for classes, conversations, stories, and experiences that help people feel more capable or independent. Distinguish from the verb senses, which describe the act of giving authority, practical means, or confidence.
常見錯誤
empowering — verb
1. to give a person or organization formal authority or a legal right to act
to give a person or organization formal authority or a legal right to act
The court order empowered the agency to inspect unsafe buildings immediately.
empower + object + to + verb
This law empowers village councils to collect a small road tax.
law empowers + body
The contract empowered Baraka to sign on behalf of the family business.
A new rule now empowers teachers to remove dangerous items from lockers.
- authorize
close formal equivalent that stresses official permission
- entitle
focuses on a right someone has under a rule or agreement
- commission
often means giving someone an official task or role
- permit
broader and less formal than empower in legal writing
- forbid
states that someone must not do the action
- bar
formal verb for preventing official access or action
- disqualify
removes a person's right to act in a role
文法句型
empower + person/group + to + verb
law/rule/contract empowers + object
用法筆記
Usually has a law, court, contract, or rule as the subject and a person, board, or agency as the object. Distinguish from verb/2, which is about giving practical help or opportunity rather than official authority.
常見錯誤
2. to give someone the tools, support, or chance that lets them do something they c
to give someone the tools, support, or chance that lets them do something they could not easily do before
Free childcare empowered Aylin to return to work after Milo was born.
practical support empowers + person
Online maps empower hikers to choose a safer path before dark.
technology empowers + group
The grant empowered small farms to buy cold storage for summer fruit.
Better subtitles empower deaf students to follow the science video.
文法句型
empower + person/group + to + verb
money/training/technology empowers + object
用法筆記
The subject is often money, technology, training, or some other support that removes a barrier. Distinguish from verb/3, which focuses on growing confidence or voice rather than simply making an action possible.
常見錯誤
3. to help someone grow in confidence, self-direction, or influence so they can spe
to help someone grow in confidence, self-direction, or influence so they can speak or act for themselves
The mentor's praise empowered Christopher to speak at the town meeting.
empower + person + to speak
Learning to repair bicycles empowered Yuki after months of depending on others.
new skill builds confidence
The class discussion empowered shy students to question unfair rules.
Rodrigo said the new role empowered him to lead without fear.
- encourage
broader and can be weaker than empower
- embolden
stresses giving someone courage to act
- uplift
focuses more on morale and spirit
- strengthen
broader and may refer to ability, position, or confidence
- discourage
makes someone less willing to act or speak
- silence
directly removes a person's voice or chance to speak
- undermine
weakens a person's confidence or influence
文法句型
empower + person/group + to + verb
praise/education/community empowers + object
用法筆記
Often used for teaching, support, praise, or public recognition that helps people act with more confidence or influence. Distinguish from verb/2, which may simply remove a practical barrier without changing how people see their own power.