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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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:
For years, marketers sought out social-media charismatics who boasted hundreds of thousands or even millions of followers, and worked with them directly to develop perfectly polished content to promote their brands.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
They said the unversity took antisemitism "extremely seriously" and investigated it, and that the university has worked closely with civic and faith leaders to promote dialogue and understanding between communities.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
"It compels us to preserve this property, to protect it, to cherish it even more, and to promote its value," he added.
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
"Understanding the biological, behavioral, and social factors that promote exceptional cognitive aging may ultimately complement traditional disease-focused approaches and help inform more personalized strategies for supporting brain health across the lifespan."
From Science Daily ● Jul. 25, 2026
“Then you should promote me to Re’lar, Master Kilvin.”
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Among the priority areas Kratsios promotes for this new funding model are AI, quantum computing and robotics.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026
Orta has been busy ever since, selling hundreds of listings that she promotes on Instagram and other social-media platforms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
A TikTok spokesperson said at the time: "We strictly prohibit content that promotes or encourages dangerous behaviour."
From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026
The researchers wanted to determine whether ultrasound could encourage these immune cells to transition from an inflammatory state to one that promotes healing.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 12, 2026
Under the conditions prevailing it provides mere paper security and promotes a completely unjustified impression that safe limits have been established and are being adhered to.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
Michael Watts, the agency’s president since 2014, would be promoted to chief executive officer, Providence said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
A switch to Danish Superliga club AaB followed in January 2022, but he was on the move again a year later, this time to Stabaek, who had just been promoted to the Norwegian Eliteserien.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Authorities described the gathering as an “unsanctioned party” that had been promoted online.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
The latter is promoted as a substance that can prevent aging, and help with insomnia.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
The assistant gunner was badly injured, and Allen was promoted to his position.
From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge
For all of the vicious debates over sex ed in the ’90 and 2000s, those pushing abstinence and those promoting comprehensive health education could largely agree on one thing: We wanted teen pregnancies to decrease.
From Slate ● Jul. 28, 2026
It is heavily promoting teen accounts, building stricter supervision controls, putting limits on late-night notifications and installing compulsory break reminders.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
“My actual work promoting root-cause care for infertility received less airtime.”
From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026
Pomroy is keen to stress that Nauru Soccer is not trying to "force football down everyone's throat" but says it's about laying a foundation for a sport, promoting healthy lifestyles and building communities.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
Roger Horchow sent out a dozen faxes promoting his daughter’s friend’s new restaurant.
From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell
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.
