promote
Americanverb (used with object)
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promotes,
present (3rd person singular)
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promoted,
past participle, past
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promoting
present participle
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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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promotabilitynoun
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promotionnoun
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prepromoteverb (used with object)
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promotableadjective
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promotionaladjective
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self-promotingadjective
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unpromotableadjective
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unpromotedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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promotesimple
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promotessimple
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have promotedperfect
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has promotedperfect
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am promotingprogressive
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are promotingprogressive
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is promotingprogressive
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have been promotingperfect progressive
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has been promotingperfect progressive
Past
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promotedsimple
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had promotedperfect
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was promotingprogressive
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were promotingprogressive
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had been promotingperfect progressive
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.
See Examples For:
As growth hormone gradually builds up during sleep, it stimulates neurons in the locus coeruleus, increasing their activity and helping promote the transition toward waking.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026
ROS are known to damage cells and promote inflammation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026
There is no funding announced so far for the project, but Catherine is using her profile to promote a cause that she once described as her "life's work".
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
Corona Cero, the alcohol-free version of Corona sold by Anheuser-Busch InBev, is expanding an international seven-pack to promote the theme of a beer for every day of the week.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
In a furious squabble of accusation and recrimination he would demote officers and promote the most unlikely soldiers from the ranks.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
Although greater activity in the locus coeruleus generally promotes alertness, excessive stimulation can have the opposite effect.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026
The office “takes seriously its responsibility to protect public funds and hold itself to the standards of accountability it promotes across state government,” the spokesperson said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
Now he is championing a "people-led" movement that promotes the protection of human rights and rule of law as enshrined in the constitution.
From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026
While the climate disturbance promotes cyclones in the Pacific, it can stifle them in the North Atlantic.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
“This unassuming style promotes study, that’s why we adopt it,” returned Laurie, who certainly could not be accused of vanity, having voluntarily sacrificed a handsome curly crop to the demand for quarter-inch-long stubble.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
Elon Musk promoted the story to his 241 million followers.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026
WPP promoted Adam Gerhart to the post of global chief client officer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
The company is also home to "Reese's Book Club", an online reading community whose promoted titles are sometimes adapted for the screen.
From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026
Coventry's previous home games had seen them fall to a 1-0 defeat by fellow promoted side Hull before a 5-0 thumping by Brighton.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
He achieved such astonishing speed records that he was promoted to superintendent, and then went into the contracting business for himself, building bridges, canals, industrial towns, and factories.
From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
"AI can also have a detrimental impact on climate change from that angle," said Maria Joao Sousa, executive director of Climate Change AI, a nonprofit promoting the use of AI for climate action.
From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026
Raman initially endorsed Bass’ bid for a second term, appearing in news releases in January promoting the mayor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
But multiple experts say influencers promoting cortisol testing are looking at the problem backward.
From Slate ● Oct. 9, 2026
We have begun hosting educational workshops promoting organ donation in memory of an alumnus who was killed—and whose organs have been transplanted in five others.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
Then the Hope Springs middle school principal talked about the problem with bake sales: promoting healthy food choices versus the importance of student-led fundraising.
From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
