DictionaryAI

promote

verb
Saypruh-MOHT/pɹəˈmoʊt/UK/pɹəˈməʊt/

Formspromotes, promoting, promoted

7 meanings of promote

Practice

  1. 1
    spread the wordverbtransitive
    To encourage people to support something, do something, or buy something.

    Like a person standing outside a shop, calling out so people come in to buy.

    The band used social media to promote their new album.

    Stores promote products with big sales and bright signs.

  2. 2
    higher jobverbtransitive
    To move someone up to a higher or more important job.

    Like moving up a step on a ladder at work.

    The company decided to promote her to manager.

    They promote workers who show strong leadership skills.

    UsageSay promote someone to a job: promoted to manager.

    Similarelevate, advance, upgrade, raise

    Oppositedemote

    Note
  3. 3
    higher leagueverbpassivetransitive
    To move a sports team up into a higher league.

    Like moving up to a harder class after passing your tests.

    Each year the league will promote the top two teams.

    Their rivals were promoted last season after a strong finish.

    UsageUsually was promoted. A team that goes down is relegated.

    Oppositerelegate

    Note
  4. 4
    verbtransitive
    To help something grow or move forward.

    Sunlight and water promote healthy growth in young plants.

    Reading aloud every night promotes a child's love of books.

    Similarencourage, foster, boost, stimulate, further

    Oppositehinder, inhibit, impede, hamper

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 5
    chessverbtransitive
    In chess, to turn a pawn into a stronger piece when it reaches the far side of the board.

    Like a small game piece reaching the goal and turning into your most powerful one.

    She moved her pawn to the last row and chose to promote it to a queen.

    You can promote a pawn to a knight if that helps you win.

    UsageSay promote a pawn to a queen.

    Similarqueen

    Note
  2. 6
    verbSingaporeintransitive
    To move up to the next grade or level in school.

    Like moving up to the next level in a video game.

    Students who pass all their classes promote to the next grade.

    She worked hard so she could promote at the end of the year.

    UsageHere the student promotes; most people say the student is promoted.

    Similaradvance, progress, pass

    Note
  3. 7
    verb
    In chemistry, to make a substance that speeds up reactions work even better by changing its surface.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of promote apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin prōmoveō, meaning "to move forward" or "advance."

Checked 7 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

  • Promote derives from Latin prōmoveō, through its perfect passive participle prōmōtus. en.wiktionary.org
  • Latin prōmoveō means “to move forward” or “advance.” en.wiktionary.org