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Definition of "encouraging" []

  • Giving courage, confidence, or hope: an encouraging advance in medical research. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "encouraging" in a sentence
  • "To say the news coming out of the Gulf is not what you call encouraging is like saying it's been a rough week for Dennis Hopper."
  • "Researchers are touting what they call encouraging results from trials of a vaccine for HIV."
  • "Nevertheless, we heard President Bush today talk about positive news, what he called encouraging news out of Iraq in the past month -- the president noting that in his brief statement today -- but also warning that some of the progress that's been made could change."