Entry Word: promote

Function: verb

Meaning: 1 to move higher in rank or position <the Navy promoted her to captain for her record of outstanding performance>

Synonyms advance, elevate, raise, upgrade

Related Words forward, further; aggrandize, boost, heighten, improve, lift, uplift; commission, ennoble, knight; acclaim, applaud, celebrate, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate; eulogize, extol (also extoll), glorify, hail, honor, laud, praise, salute

Near Antonyms depose, dethrone, dismiss, expel, impeach, oust, overthrow, remove, unmake, unseat; demean, disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, mortify, shame, take down; censure, condemn, damn, denounce, reprobate

Antonyms abase, degrade, demote, downgrade, lower, reduce

2 to help the growth or development of <a campaign promoting good dental hygiene> — see foster 1
3 to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care <spends all her time now promoting her new business> — see grow 1
4 to provide publicity for <promoting a new line of toys based on the popular movie> — see publicize 1