prəˈmōt, usu -ōd.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin promotus, past participle of promovēre to move forward, promote, from pro- forward + movēre to move — more at pro- , move
transitive verb
1.
a. : to advance in station, rank, or honor : raise — opposed to demote
b. : to change (a pawn) into a piece by moving to the eighth rank
c. : to advance (a student) from one grade or class to the next usually at the end of an academic year or semester
2. obsolete
a. : to inform against
b. : to put forward (as a claim)
3. law : to institute (as a prosecution or suit) as a common informer, or as one permitted by the ordinary to inaugurate a criminal proceeding — used chiefly in the phrase to promote the office of the ordinary
4.
a. : to contribute to the growth, enlargement, or prosperity of : further , encourage
promote international understanding
the fixity of inheritance laws … promoted extreme jealousy among potential heirs — Ralph Linton
b. : to bring or help to bring (as a business enterprise) into being : launch
promote a mining company
promote a prize fight
c. : to present (merchandise) for public acceptance through advertising and publicity
d. : to increase the activity of (a catalyst) by adding a small percentage of another substance ; also : to accelerate (a reaction) by such an addition — opposed to poison
5. slang : to get possession of by doubtful means or by ingenuity
see what he could promote by a little personal string pulling — J.G.Cozzens
able to promote a bottle of wine — R.M.Ingersoll
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to incite someone (as to strife)
2. obsolete : to inform against someone
3. : to become a queen or other piece in chess
a pawn automatically promotes when it reaches the eighth rank
Synonyms: see advance