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:
The finding revealed a previously unrecognized mechanism through which abnormal cancer cells can promote tumor growth, even when they account for only a small portion of the tumor.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
“Working together, we can more effectively protect against voter dilution and promote election integrity.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026
Ministers say they will tighten up rules, promote competition and give customers clearer compensation routes if things go wrong.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
“The paleocons were concerned less with keeping the government small,” she writes, “than with ensuring it be used to promote the right causes and help the right people.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026
Fetal hormones, taking chromosomal cues, inhibit Miillerian structures, promote Wolffian ducts.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
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
"Ultra-processed food triggers dopamine, the pleasure hormone, which promotes craving. Food companies work with scientists to find just the right amount of sugar, salt, and fat that make you want to eat more and more."
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
And so he promotes the show to a choice primetime slot.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 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
Elon Musk promoted the story to his 241 million followers.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026
If he survives the test against Hull, Arbeloa will face his third promoted side in a row, as Fulham travel to Championship winners Coventry City in the league next weekend.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
He was promoted to vice president in 2024 following a companywide restructuring and layoffs that saw the departure of several of Tesla’s top executives, including longtime energy chief Drew Baglino.
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
And that’s what this popular app often promoted on CountDowners provides.
From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera
The Princess of Wales has launched a project promoting the use of nature to help develop young children's social and emotional development.
From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026
"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
Kim Kardashian is promoting a partnership between Skims and DoorDash, which now delivers the brand’s apparel from 29 of its stores.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 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
“I have two new Messenger slots to fill, and as a matter of urgency I am promoting you a day earlier than planned. Here are your new uniforms.”
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
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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.
