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to feel empowered

to feel empowered

9 4.1
To feel confident and able to make choices and act
  • phrasal verb
  • /fiːl ɪmˈpaʊərd/
translation icon : sentirse empoderado
  • With the support from her friends, she started to feel empowered to pursue her dreams.
  • students feel empowered

They'll, you know, they'll feel empowered and they'll feel uplifted.

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Examples

  • Kids were making games, playing games, and feeling empowered in an incredibly positive way.

    Blog text (32)
  • Students may feel empowered through the personal and confidential conversations they have with mentors.

    Academic text (2011)
  • With many others, you may now feel empowered to clean up your life.

  • And if people understand that, they will feel empowered to fight against it.

  • And both times I left the movie feeling empowered, inspired, ready for action.

  • Results of the 2007 survey indicated that, overall, students did not feel empowered in their school.

    Academic text (2014)
  • As an instructor, I too felt empowered by this process.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The authors also reported that the mothers felt empowered when their input was valued.

    Academic text (2007)
  • We hope the day helped our employees feel empowered to make healthier lifestyle choices that positively affect their lives.

    Academic text (2014)
  • By acknowledging cultural expressions in an academic setting, teachers can help African American students feel empowered to become academically successful.

    Academic text (2003)

Antonyms

weak-kneed
  • Informal
7.0

Feeling weak and unsteady after strong feelings or hard physical work

How Empowered

to feel empowered
9 4.1

Surface Forms

feel empowered infinitive
felt empowered past participle
feeling empowered present participle
feels empowered third person singular

Morphology

feel + empowered

The phrase is a direct composition of 'feel' (to experience) + 'empowered' (having been given power or confidence), so its meaning 'to experience a sense of power/confidence' is readily derivable from the parts. This verb + adjective structure is a common, cross-linguistic pattern and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

Feel empowered comes from the simple image of being given power to act, like being handed a key or useful tools. When you feel stronger because you were given power (empowered), you 'feel confident and in control'.