empowered to

USAGE SUMMARY

"empowered to" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone who has been given the authority or ability to do something. Here is an example: "John was empowered to make all decisions regarding the project, as he was the team leader."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They're empowered to do so.

The New York Times

A community empowered to govern itself".

The New Yorker

There should be many more people empowered to do this".

Independent

It was not empowered to decide on claims.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Legislature was empowered to choose a successor.

The New Yorker

The union president is not empowered to make unilateral decisions.

The New York Times - Sports

Personal finance sites empowered to ingest financial statements could help spendthrifts reform.

The Economist

But the bureaucracies empowered to grant the reductions have tended to block any applications.

The Economist

Farmers have been empowered to improve their own lives through accessing critical agricultural information as opposed to depending on aid.

The Guardian

"I am not empowered to provide them with financial help; I am not empowered to lower the rents and taxes," he said.

The New York Times

The legislature meets annually for 60 days, but the governor is empowered to convene special sessions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "empowered to" when you want to convey that someone has been given authority or resources to take action. It suggests a sense of agency and responsibility.

Common error

Avoid using "empowered to" in situations where the subject is merely acted upon. "Empowered to" implies an active role and decision-making ability. Ensure the subject genuinely possesses agency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "empowered to" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that someone or something has been given the authority or ability to perform a specific action. Ludwig AI confirms this by providing numerous examples where the phrase is used to describe enablement and authorization.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Formal & Business

24%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "empowered to" is a versatile and widely used phrase that signifies the granting of authority or ability to someone. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and finds common usage across diverse contexts, including news, business, and academic writing. Its neutral to professional tone makes it suitable for a wide range of communication purposes. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject is genuinely granted agency and decision-making capabilities. Alternatives like "authorized to" or "enabled to" can provide subtle shifts in meaning, depending on the desired emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

authorized to

Emphasizes formal permission or sanction.

enabled to

Focuses on providing the means or opportunity to do something.

permitted to

Highlights the allowance or granting of permission for an action.

given the ability to

Stresses the possession of skills or capacity.

equipped to

Suggests preparedness and provision of necessary resources.

entitled to

Implies a right or qualification to perform an action.

allowed to

Highlights the granting of permission; less formal than "authorized".

has the power to

Emphasizes the possession of control or influence.

in a position to

Suggests a favorable circumstance or condition that enables action.

capable of

Focuses on inherent or developed competence.

FAQs

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

Use "empowered to" to indicate that someone has been given the authority or ability to do something. For example, "The manager was empowered to make all hiring decisions".

What's a synonym for "empowered to"?

Alternatives to "empowered to" include "authorized to", "enabled to", and "permitted to", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "empowered for" instead of "empowered to"?

No, the correct construction is "empowered to". "Empowered for" is grammatically incorrect and not standard usage. For example, you wouldn't say "She was empowered for make decisions", but "She was empowered to make decisions".

What does it mean when someone is "empowered to" do something?

It means they have been given the authority, resources, or ability to take action or make decisions in a particular area. It suggests they are not only allowed but also equipped to act effectively.