empower

verb

em·​pow·​er im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce empower (audio)
empowered; empowering; empowers

transitive verb

1
: to give official authority or legal power to
empowered her attorney to act on her behalf
2
: enable sense 1a
… nootropic agents empower the lower amounts of acetylcholine in diseased brains to work overtime …Science News
3
: to promote the self-actualization or influence of
The American women's movement has been inspiring and empowering women for nearly 20 years …Ron Hansen
Members of our discipline often envision themselves as agents of social change who try to promote critique of dominant ideologies and empower students to become active participants in the larger political world.Christy Friend

Examples of empower in a Sentence

seeking changes in the workplace that will empower women the federal agency empowered to collect taxes
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. Sean Illing, Vox, 9 Nov. 2024 Smith, 94, had hoped to re-establish housing policies that empowered environmental groups and local government following the development of People’s Park in Berkeley. Chase Hunter, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024 Being in tune with your employees and team members’ needs, challenges, and emotions empowers anyone to lead with compassion by fostering a work environment where employees know they are seen, heard, and valued. Brent Gleeson, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 But the album’s mix of empowering dance-pop and bombastic arena rock was unquestionably Gaga’s brainchild — no one else made the decision to place her head at the front of a motorcycle on the album cover. Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for empower 

Word History

First Known Use

1648, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of empower was in 1648

Dictionary Entries Near empower

Cite this Entry

“Empower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empower. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

empower

verb
em·​pow·​er im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r How to pronounce empower (audio)
: to give official authority or legal power to

Legal Definition

empower

transitive verb
em·​pow·​er im-ˈpau̇-ər How to pronounce empower (audio)
: to give official authority or legal power to
no branch of government should be empowered unilaterally to impose a serious penaltyL. H. Tribe

More from Merriam-Webster on empower

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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