promote

verb

pro·mote | \ prə-ˈmōt

promoted; promoting

Definition of promote

transitive verb

1a : to advance in station, rank, or honor : raise

b : to change (a pawn) into a piece in chess by moving to the eighth rank

c : to advance (a student) from one grade to the next higher grade

2a : to contribute to the growth or prosperity of : further promote international understanding

b : to help bring (something, such as an enterprise) into being : launch

c : to present (merchandise) for buyer acceptance through advertising, publicity, or discounting

3 slang : to get possession of by doubtful means or by ingenuity

Other Words from promote Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about promote

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Other Words from promote

promotability \ prə-ˌmō-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

promotable \ prə-ˈmō-tə-bəl

\ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for promote

advance, promote, forward, further mean to help (someone or something) to move ahead. advance stresses effective assisting in hastening a process or bringing about a desired end. advance the cause of peace promote suggests an encouraging or fostering and may denote an increase in status or rank. a campaign to promote better health forward implies an impetus forcing something ahead. a wage increase would forward productivity further suggests a removing of obstacles in the way of a desired advance. used the marriage to further his career

Examples of promote in a Sentence

He was promoted to senior editor. The army major was promoted to lieutenant colonel. The team have been promoted to the First Division. Mediators were present to promote dialogue. Good soil promotes plant growth. The school distributed pamphlets promoting good dental hygiene. The marketing department is busy promoting the new line of men's clothes for fall. The island is being promoted as a destination for romantic getaways.

Recent Examples on the Web

Microsoft promoted its Books tab simply through the Store app, without any overt marketing of its contents or any deals within—unfortunately, a somewhat typical Microsoft failing. — Mark Hachman, PCWorld, "Microsoft has closed its e-bookstore, and everything you purchased will vanish in July," 2 Apr. 2019 The American Idol alum officially promoted The Kelly Clarkson Show for the first time on Twitter, encouraging fans to visit the website and follow its social media channels. — Kelly O'sullivan, Country Living, "Kelly Clarkson's New Talk Show Is Officially Coming to TV—Here's What We Know," 26 Jan. 2019 The feeling of some was that Facebook wasn’t promoting Instagram, and even taking credit for engagement that Instagram was driving. — Kurt Wagner, Recode, "Facebook’s recent ‘bear hug’ of Instagram frustrated its independent founders, leading to their exit," 25 Sep. 2018 Glossier didn't promote the new formula at all, really. — Sable Yong, Allure, "How Glossier’s New Perfecting Skin Tint Formula Compares to the Original," 11 Sep. 2018 Only the free market simultaneously promotes both quality and, by cost control, availability. — WSJ, "The CMS Acknowledges Free Market’s Positive Incentives," 28 Mar. 2019 For his solo visit, Harry promoted the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy (QCC) initiative with Woodland Trust, the U.K.'s largest woodland conservation charity. — Nicole Saunders, Harper's BAZAAR, "Prince Harry Had the Most Chill Reaction to a Boy Who Didn't Think He Was a "Real Prince"," 21 Mar. 2019 Potassium helps promote vigorous growth and hardiness, so a deficit may result in wimpy fruit or spindly plants that fall prey to pests and diseases. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, "Here's How to Understand Fertilizer Numbers and Letters," 21 Mar. 2019 In 2015, Prince Harry also designed a garden to promote Sentebale, a South African charity founded by the Prince to provide HIV care. — Sara Rodrigues, House Beautiful, "Buckingham Palace Is In Bloom: How The Royals Are Celebrating Spring," 21 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'promote.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.