PROMOTE definition: to help or encourage to exist or flourish; further. See examples of promote used in a sentence.
PROMOTE definition: 1. to encourage people to like, buy, use, do, or support something: 2. to raise someone to a…. Learn more.
If people promote something, they help or encourage it to happen, increase, or spread. You don't have to sacrifice environmental protection to promote economic growth. [VERB noun] We actively promote the use of alternative transport methods. [VERB noun]
There are 18 meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb promote, four of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
promote suggests an encouraging or fostering and may denote an increase in status or rank.
To promote generally means to further the progress or advancement of something, to encourage or support, or to raise to a higher position or rank. This could apply in various contexts such as promoting a product, idea, event, or an individual within a company.
The President's visit was intended to promote [= further] foreign trade. Mediators were present to promote dialogue. Good soil promotes plant growth. The school distributed pamphlets promoting good dental hygiene.
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.
promote something to help something to happen or develop synonym encourage. I applaud his efforts to promote world peace. The exhibition was intended to promote interest in contemporary sculpture.