Definition of: promote

(prə·mōt′) v.t. ·mot·ed, ·mot·ing
1. To contribute to the progress, development, or growth of; further; encourage.
2. To advance to a higher position, grade, or honor.
3. To work in behalf of; advocate actively: to promote social reforms.
4. In education, to advance (a pupil) to the next higher school grade. [<L promotus, pp. of promovere move forward <pro- forward + movere move] Synonyms: advance, aid, assist, elevate, encourage, exalt, excite, foment, forward, foster, further, help, prefer, raise. We promote a person by advancing, elevating, or exalting him to a higher position or dignity. A person promotes a scheme or an enterprise which others have projected or begun, and which he encourages, forwards, furthers, especially when he acts as the agent of the prime movers of the enterprise. One who excites a quarrel originates it; to promote a quarrel is strictly to foment it, the one who promotes keeping himself in the background. See ABET, ENCOURAGE, QUICKEN, SERVE. Antonyms: see synonyms for ABASE, ALLAY.