Promote — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /prə-ˈmōt/ pro·mote

Meaning & Definition of Promote

Promote (verb)

  1. to advance in station, rank, or honor, raise
  2. to change (a pawn) into a piece in chess by moving to the eighth rank
  3. to advance (a student) from one grade to the next higher grade

Promote (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to provide publicity for

    "promoting a new line of toys based on the popular movie"

    similar: ballyhoo, boost, hype, pitch, plug, publicize, talk up, tout, beat the drum (for)
    related: advertise, bark, merchandise, sell, push, acclaim, hail, laud, praise, endorse, plump (for), plunk (for), recommend, review, announce, broadcast, publish

  2. to move higher in rank or position

    "the navy promoted her to captain for her record of outstanding performance"

    similar: advance, elevate, raise, upgrade, kick upstairs
    related: forward, further, aggrandize, boost, heighten, improve, lift, uplift, commission, ennoble, knight, acclaim, applaud, celebrate, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate, eulogize, exalt, extol, glorify, hail, honor, laud, praise, salute
    opposite: abase, degrade, demote, downgrade, lower, reduce
    near: depose, dethrone, dismiss, expel, impeach, oust, overthrow, remove, unmake, unseat, demean, disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, mortify, shame, take down, censure, condemn, damn, denounce, reprobate

  3. to help the growth or development of

    "a campaign promoting good dental hygiene"

    similar: advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, incubate, nourish, nurse, nurture
    related: advocate, back, champion, endorse, support, uphold, endow, finance, fund, patronize, stake, subsidize, underwrite, abet, aid, assist, advertise, boost, plug, publicize, tout, agitate (for), campaign (for), work (for)
    opposite: discourage, frustrate, hinder, inhibit
    near: ban, bar, enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prevent, prohibit, proscribe, battle, combat, contend (with), counter, fight, oppose, repress, snuff (out), squash, squelch, stifle, subdue, suppress, arrest, check, halt, retard, encumber, fetter, hobble, impede, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle

  4. to look after or assist the growth of by labor and care

    "spends all her time now promoting her new business"

    similar: crop, cultivate, culture, dress, grow, raise, rear, tend
    related: breed, produce, propagate, plant, sow, gather, glean, harvest, reap, germinate, quicken, ripen, root, sprout
    near: kill, dig, extirpate, pick, pluck, pull (up), uproot, cut, hay, mow

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Promote

The most common words with a similar meaning to Promote:

ballyhoo, boost, hype, pitch, plug, publicize, talk up, tout, advance, elevate, raise, upgrade, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, incubate, nourish, nurse, nurture, crop, culture, dress, grow, rear, tend, beat the drum (for), kick upstairs

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Promote

Words with the opposite meaning of Promote:

abase, degrade, demote, downgrade, lower, reduce, discourage, frustrate, hinder, inhibit

Related Words for Promote

advertise, bark, merchandise, sell, push, acclaim, hail, laud, praise, endorse, plump (for), plunk (for), recommend, review, announce, broadcast, publish, aggrandize, heighten, improve, lift, uplift, commission, ennoble, knight, applaud, celebrate, cite, commend, compliment

Near Antonyms of Promote

depose, dethrone, dismiss, expel, impeach, oust, overthrow, remove, unmake, unseat, demean, disgrace, dishonor, humble, humiliate, mortify, shame, take down, censure, condemn, damn, denounce, reprobate, ban, bar, enjoin, forbid, interdict, outlaw, prevent

Word Forms of Promote

Inflections: promoted, promoting

Derived words: promotability (noun), promotable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Promote

Middle English, from Latin promotus, past participle of promovēre, literally, to move forward, from pro- forward + movēre to move

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Promote

Words & Phrases Containing Promote

cross-promote

Frequently Asked Questions about Promote

What does "Promote" mean?

"Promote" means to advance in station, rank, or honor, raise. As a verb, it is defined as: to advance in station, rank, or honor, raise. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Promote"?

Other words for "Promote" include ballyhoo, boost, hype, pitch, plug, publicize, talk up and tout. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Promote" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Promote"?

There are 99 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Promote". Common alternatives include ballyhoo, boost, hype, pitch, plug, publicize, talk up, tout, advance and elevate.

What is the opposite of "Promote"?

Antonyms of "Promote" include abase, degrade, demote, downgrade, lower, reduce, discourage and frustrate. Near antonyms include depose, dethrone, dismiss and expel.

How do you use "Promote" in a sentence?

Examples of "Promote" in a sentence: "promoting a new line of toys based on the popular movie"; "the navy promoted her to captain for her record of outstanding performance"; "a campaign promoting good dental hygiene".

Is "Promote" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Promote" is a verb.

Is "Promote" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Promote" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Promote"?

"Promote" is pronounced /prə-ˈmōt/ and divided into syllables as pro·mote.