foster

¹

[faw-ster, fos-ter]

verb (used with object)

1. to promote the growth or development of; further; encourage.

   to foster new ideas.

   Synonyms: instigate, foment, advance, forward, favor
   Antonyms: discourage

2. to care for a foster child or a pet as a temporary guardian.

   The couple fostered two boys until they could be reunited with their birth parents.

   Have you ever fostered a kitten that you just couldn’t part from afterwards?

   Synonyms: maintain, support, sustain, nourish, nurse

3. to care for or cherish.

4. British.,  to place (a child) in a foster home.

5. Obsolete.,  to feed or nourish.

Foster

²

[faw-ster, fos-ter]

noun

1. Stephen (Collins), 1826–64, U.S. songwriter.

2. William Z(ebulon) 1881–1961, U.S. labor organizer: leader in the Communist Party.

3. a male given name.

foster

¹

/ ˈfɒstə /

verb

1. to promote the growth or development of

2. to bring up (a child, etc); rear

3. to cherish (a plan, hope, etc) in one's mind

4. 1. to place (a child) in the care of foster parents

   2. to bring up under fosterage

adjective

1. (in combination) indicating relationship through fostering and not through birth

   foster mother

   foster child

2. (in combination) of or involved in the rearing of a child by persons other than his natural or adopted parents

   foster home

Foster

²

/ ˈfɒstə /

noun

1. Jodie . born 1962, US film actress and director: her films include Taxi Driver (1976), The Accused (1988), The Silence of the Lambs (1990), Little Man Tate (1991; also directed), Nell (1995), and Panic Room (2002)

2. Norman , Baron. born 1935, British architect. His works include the Willis Faber building (1978) in Ipswich, Stansted Airport, Essex (1991), Chek Lap Kok Airport, Hong Kong (1998), the renovation of the Reichstag, Berlin (1999), and City Hall, London (2002)

3. Stephen Collins . 1826–64, US composer of songs such as The Old Folks at Home and Oh Susanna

Other Word Forms

• fostering noun
• fosterer noun
• fosteringly adverb
• unfostering adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of foster¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English fōstor “nourishment,” fōstrian “to nourish”; cognate with Old Norse fōstr; akin to food

Word History and Origins

Origin of foster¹

Old English fōstrian to feed, from fōstor _food

Synonym Study

See cherish.

Example Sentences

Podcasts use their unique place in media to foster trust and faith in their audience.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Many users, especially those in Gen Z, have grown tired of dating apps and question their ability to foster meaningful connections, opting instead for in-person interactions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The pair documented their lives together, opening the door for fans to speculate on their relationship and foster a parasocial connection, Howell explained in the video.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It's also bought residents closer together and fostered a sense of community as "there's nothing like adversity to help a team gel," according to Mark.

Read more on BBC

The only economic sectors with job growth this year have been healthcare, government and education; these are not high-wage sectors that foster spin-offs and more employment.

Read more on MarketWatch