verb
Uncommon
empower
ihm-POW-uh
Empower (verb) means to give someone the authority or legal right to do something. Example: “The new law empowers local councils to set their own budgets.”
verb
1
To give someone the authority or legal right to do something.
"The new law empowers local councils to set their own budgets."
2
To give someone greater confidence or control over their own life.
"Musically, what originally attracted me to dance was its shamanist aspects, using natural magic to change people's neurological states and to psychologically empower them."
— Nick Logan, The Face (1992)
"John found that starting up his own business empowered him greatly in social situations."
"The workshop was designed to empower young women to pursue careers in science."
"This side of the training is effective in empowering employees to make better decisions on site, and helps to improve employee retention."
— Davie Carns, Addressing the skills gap (2021)
How to use empower
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo give someone power, authority, or confidence to act for themselves.
Common pairings
empower employees
empower women
feel empowered
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- empowers
- Past tense
- empowered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The new law _____ local councils to set their own budgets.
Etymology
From em- (a form of "in") + power.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for empower
See all rhymes for empower →Frequently asked questions
What does “empower” mean?
The word “empower” means to give someone the authority or legal right to do something. In plain terms, to give someone power, authority, or confidence to act for themselves.
How do you pronounce “empower”?
“Empower” is pronounced ihm-POW-uh (/ɪmˈpaʊ.əɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “empower” in a sentence?
Here is “empower” used in a sentence: “The new law empowers local councils to set their own budgets.”
What part of speech is “empower”?
“Empower” is a verb.
Is “empower” a common word?
“Empower” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “empower” have?
“Empower” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to give someone the authority or legal right to do something.
