be empowered to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be empowered to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has been given the authority or ability to take action or make decisions. Example: "Employees should be empowered to make choices that enhance their productivity and job satisfaction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Teachers want to be empowered to do their own thing.

The Guardian

Why? -Who should be empowered to make these decisions?

The New York Times

So why can't parliament be empowered to make this decision?

The Guardian - Opinion

"The private sector needs to be empowered to take that kind of action," Alperovitch said.

The New Yorker

"I think people should be empowered to make adjustments to see what feels right for them.

The New York Times

The forthcoming inquiry must be empowered to get to the truth".

Independent

I want to be empowered to do what I feel about jazz.

The New Yorker

We want you to be empowered to be healthy and make informed decisions.

The New York Times

From the top, a body of experts can be empowered to make rationing decisions.

The New York Times

The six inspectors will be empowered to issue citations to businesses, not to individual cyclists.

The New York Times

The local authority should be empowered to work with schools to maximise fair access.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be empowered to" when you want to emphasize the granting of authority or capability to someone, enabling them to take control or make decisions. For example, "Employees should be empowered to make decisions that enhance their productivity".

Common error

Avoid using "be empowered to" excessively in passive constructions where the actor remains vague. Ensure that it's clear who is doing the empowering and who is being empowered to avoid ambiguity and strengthen your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be empowered to" functions as a passive infinitive construction, indicating that someone or something is given the authority, ability, or right to perform a specific action. As supported by Ludwig AI, this construction emphasizes the act of granting power or agency.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be empowered to" is a versatile and widely used expression that indicates the granting of authority or capability. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent appearance across diverse contexts, from news and media to science and formal business settings. When writing, consider alternatives like "be authorized to" or "be enabled to" to add variety to your language. Also, be mindful of avoiding overuse in passive constructions to maintain clarity and impact. Understanding these nuances will help you effectively incorporate "be empowered to" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be authorized to

Implies formal permission or legal right, often in official contexts.

be enabled to

Focuses on providing the means or capability to perform an action.

be permitted to

Suggests allowance or consent, often with a sense of limitation.

be allowed to

Similar to "be permitted to" but can also imply tolerance rather than explicit approval.

be entitled to

Highlights a right or qualification to do something.

have the power to

Emphasizes the possession of strength or authority to act.

be given the ability to

Stresses the provision of a skill or capacity.

be sanctioned to

Indicates official approval or endorsement, often in more formal settings.

be delegated to

Suggests that authority or responsibility has been passed down from a superior.

be commissioned to

Implies that someone has been formally requested to complete a task or project, usually requiring a degree of skill.

FAQs

How can I use "be empowered to" in a sentence?

Use "be empowered to" to indicate that someone has been given the authority or ability to take action or make decisions. For example, "Citizens should be empowered to participate in local governance".

What are some alternatives to "be empowered to"?

You can use alternatives like "be authorized to", "be enabled to", or "be permitted to" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "be empowered to" or "have the ability to"?

While both phrases convey the idea of capability, "be empowered to" suggests that this ability is granted by an external source. "Have the ability to" is a more general statement of capability. Choose based on whether you want to emphasize the source of the ability.

What's the difference between "be empowered to" and "be allowed to"?

"Be allowed to" simply means permission is granted, whereas "be empowered to" implies not just permission but also the resources and support necessary to succeed. "Be empowered to" has a stronger connotation of agency and control.