empower
verb
em·pow·er
im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r 
empowered; empowering; empowers
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
Science News3
: 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
Ron HansenMembers 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
Christy FriendSynonyms
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
As a pioneer in personal branding and expert in virtual communication, William Arruda empowers professionals to shine online.
—William Arruda, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
With information on waste attributes, data collection methodologies, organizations involved, and a lens on upcoming studies for a region, Fashion for Good says the first-of-its-kind tool empowers users of textile waste and stakeholders looking to further the industry’s knowledge base.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 31 Dec. 2024
Instead of empowering junior officers to make independent decisions, the PLA has long had a penchant for centralizing decision-making authority among senior commanders.
—Sam Bresnick, Foreign Affairs, 31 Dec. 2024
Stuff that empowers us, and encourages us, and shows us in all of the lights, complexities, and nuances.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for empower 
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William Arruda, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
With information on waste attributes, data collection methodologies, organizations involved, and a lens on upcoming studies for a region, Fashion for Good says the first-of-its-kind tool empowers users of textile waste and stakeholders looking to further the industry’s knowledge base.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 31 Dec. 2024
Instead of empowering junior officers to make independent decisions, the PLA has long had a penchant for centralizing decision-making authority among senior commanders.
—Sam Bresnick, Foreign Affairs, 31 Dec. 2024
Stuff that empowers us, and encourages us, and shows us in all of the lights, complexities, and nuances.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for empower
Dictionary Entries Near empower
Cite this Entry
“Empower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empower. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
empower
verb
em·pow·er
im-ˈpau̇(-ə)r
: to give official authority or legal power to
Legal Definition
empower
transitive verb
em·pow·er
im-ˈpau̇-ər
: to give official authority or legal power to
no branch of government should be empowered unilaterally to impose a serious penalty—L. H. Tribe
L. H. TribeLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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