promote
Americanverb (used with object)
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to help or encourage to exist or flourish; further.
to promote world peace.
- Antonyms:
- obstruct, discourage
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to advance in rank, dignity, position, etc. (opposed to demote).
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Education. to put ahead to the next higher stage or grade of a course or series of classes.
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to aid in organizing (business undertakings).
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to encourage the sales, acceptance, etc., of (a product), especially through advertising or other publicity.
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Informal. to obtain (something) by cunning or trickery; wangle.
verb
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to further or encourage the progress or existence of
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to raise to a higher rank, status, degree, etc
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to advance (a pupil or student) to a higher course, class, etc
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to urge the adoption of; work for
to promote reform
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to encourage the sale of (a product) by advertising or securing financial support
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chess to exchange (a pawn) for any piece other than a king when the pawn reaches the 8th rank
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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promotionaladjective
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prepromoteverb (used with object)
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promotionnoun
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unpromotedadjective
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promotabilitynoun
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unpromotableadjective
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self-promotingadjective
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promotableadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has promotedperfect 3rd person singular
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have promotedperfect
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have been promotingperfect progressive
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has been promotingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am promotingprogressive 1st person singular
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are promotingprogressive
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is promotingprogressive 3rd person singular
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promotessingular 3rd person
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promotingparticiple
Past
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had promotedperfect
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was promotingprogressive singular
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were promotingprogressive plural
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had been promotingperfect progressive
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promotedsimple
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promotedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of promote
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English promoten, from Latin prōmōtus, past participle of prōmovēre “to move forward, advance”; see pro- 1, motive
Explanation
If you work for a marketing firm, your job is to promote new products — to publicize them and to try to get the public to buy them. The verb promote can also mean to advance to a higher position. Because of your hard work, your boss might decide to promote you. In school, passing students are promoted each year when they enter a higher grade. In chess, the verb promote is used when a pawn is exchanged for a higher ranking piece. Make sure you promote your pawn to a queen, giving you two queens on the board and a strong advantage in the game.
Vocabulary lists containing promote
Preamble to the U.S. Constitution (1787)
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Words for Father's Day: What Fathers Do
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Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Save Electricity Customers Billions, Promote Equity,” he urged in the email.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2025
It has since been largely replaced by Japan's non-governmental, non-profit Organisation to Promote Japanese Restaurants Abroad and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries promotion of businesses that use Japanese ingredients.
From Salon • Jul. 22, 2024
Marty Bradley, whose son Joshua attends Promote two days a week, said the service offers more than just care.
From BBC • Jan. 20, 2024
"Promote fair opportunities, increase the income of low-income people, expand middle-income groups, standardise the order of income distribution and standardise wealth accumulation mechanisms."
From Reuters • Oct. 16, 2022
Promote musical and dramatic entertainments in settlements and orphanages.
From The Boy and the Sunday School A Manual of Principle and Method for the Work of the Sunday School with Teen Age Boys by Alexander, John L.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
