promote

verb

pro·​mote prə-ˈmōt 

promoted; promoting

transitive verb

1

a

: 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

2

a

: 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

promotability

prə-ˌmō-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

promotable

prə-ˈmō-tə-bəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• advance
• elevate
• raise
• upgrade

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

Santos also worries that Musk is setting a precedent that the far right will be protected and promoted on his platform, regardless of local laws or public opinion. —Vittoria Elliott, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2024

Hollywood studios have long made a point of promoting tentpole movies at the Cannes Film Festival, using the Cote d’Azur location to highlight their A-list titles with splashy promotional campaigns. —Liza Foreman, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Apr. 2024

The Recording Academy has promoted Adam Roth to executive vp of global partnerships & business development. —Paul Grein, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2024

South Korean authorities will also promote the development of next-generation artificial general intelligence (AGI) and safety technologies that go beyond existing models. —Reuters, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024

Michael Healy was promoted to EVP and CFO of Bloomin Brands (Nasdaq: BLMN), which owns several restaurant chains including Outback Steakhouse and Bonefish Grill. —Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2024

She was promoted to op-ed and Sunday Opinion editor in 2020 and editor of the editorial page in 2022. —Selena Kuznikov, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024

But overcapacity also affects China — price wars in the electric vehicle sector are expected to drive some makers out of business — and experts have called for better coordination of policies designed to promote new technologies. —CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024

The Viet America Society, which registered in 2020, claims its mission is to feed needy people, provide mental health services and promote Vietnamese culture. —Christopher Goffard, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin promotus, past participle of promovēre, literally, to move forward, from pro- forward + movēre to move

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing promote

• cross promote

Kids Definition

promote

verb

pro·​mote prə-ˈmōt 

promoted; promoting

1

: to move up in position or rank

was promoted to the next grade

2

: to help (something) grow or develop

good soil promotes plant growth

3

: to help increase the sales of

a sports star promoting a new product

Medical Definition

promote

transitive verb

pro·​mote prə-ˈmōt 

promoted; promoting

: to cause or contribute to the growth, development, or occurrence of

sugary drinks promote cavities

a diet that promotes good health