Foster

to promote the growth or development of something, to temporarily care for a child or animal as a foster parent or caregiver, to encourage or promote the development of a feeling, idea, or situation

Foster - Meanings

to promote the growth or development of something

Example: The organization works to foster a sense of community among its members.

Usage: formalContext: professional environments, educational settings

Note: Often used in contexts related to support, nurturing, or encouraging growth.

to temporarily care for a child or animal as a foster parent or caregiver

Example: She decided to foster a rescue dog until it found a permanent home.

Usage: formal/informalContext: social services, animal welfare organizations, personal conversations

Note: This meaning is commonly associated with providing temporary care and support for those in need.

to encourage or promote the development of a feeling, idea, or situation

Example: The teacher's role is to foster a love of learning in her students.

Usage: formalContext: educational settings, professional development

Note: Used to describe the act of nurturing or cultivating specific qualities or behaviors.

Foster's synonyms

nurture

To nurture means to care for and encourage the growth or development of someone or something.

Example: Parents nurture their children by providing love and support.

Note: Nurture emphasizes the aspect of care and support in helping something to grow or develop.

cultivate

To cultivate means to develop or improve by education or training; to promote the growth of something.

Example: She worked hard to cultivate a sense of community among her coworkers.

Note: Cultivate often implies a deliberate effort to improve or develop something, whether it be skills, relationships, or ideas.

foment

To foment means to instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action).

Example: The politician was accused of trying to foment unrest among the population.

Note: Foment carries a more negative connotation compared to foster, as it often involves inciting negative actions or emotions.

Foster expressions, common phrases

foster care

Foster care refers to a system in which a child is cared for by people who are not their biological parents, typically due to various reasons such as neglect or abuse.

Example: The child was placed in foster care until a permanent home could be found.

Note: Foster care specifically relates to the care of children by individuals or families other than their biological parents.

foster a relationship

To foster a relationship means to encourage the development and growth of a connection or bond between people or entities.

Example: The company aims to foster a strong relationship with its customers through excellent service.

Note: Fostering a relationship involves actively nurturing and supporting the relationship to help it grow and strengthen.

foster creativity

Fostering creativity involves promoting and encouraging the development of original ideas, imagination, and innovation.

Example: The teacher used various techniques to foster creativity among her students.

Note: Fostering creativity focuses on nurturing and inspiring creative thinking and expression.

foster a sense of community

To foster a sense of community means to encourage a feeling of belonging, unity, and cooperation among a group of people.

Example: The neighborhood association works to foster a sense of community among its residents.

Note: Fostering a sense of community involves promoting social connections and mutual support within a group.

foster change

Fostering change involves promoting and facilitating positive transformations or improvements in a particular system or situation.

Example: The organization aims to foster change by advocating for policy reforms.

Note: Fostering change focuses on actively supporting and driving forward positive shifts or advancements.

foster growth

To foster growth means to support and facilitate the expansion, development, or progress of individuals, organizations, or ideas.

Example: The manager implemented new training programs to foster growth within the company.

Note: Fostering growth involves actively enabling and promoting the advancement and enhancement of something.

foster understanding

Fostering understanding involves promoting empathy, communication, and mutual comprehension between individuals or groups.

Example: The cultural exchange program aims to foster understanding between people from different backgrounds.

Note: Fostering understanding focuses on encouraging empathy and mutual comprehension to bridge gaps in knowledge or perspectives.

foster collaboration

To foster collaboration means to promote and facilitate working together harmoniously towards a common goal or objective.

Example: The project manager encouraged team members to foster collaboration to achieve better results.

Note: Fostering collaboration involves actively encouraging and supporting cooperative efforts among individuals or groups.

foster innovation

Fostering innovation involves encouraging and supporting the development of new ideas, products, or processes.

Example: The company established a program to foster innovation among its employees.

Note: Fostering innovation focuses on stimulating and nurturing creative and inventive thinking to drive progress and change.

Foster everyday (slang) expressions

foster mom/dad

This term is often used to refer to someone who is not biologically related to a person, but serves as a parental figure, providing care and support.

Example: My foster mom has been amazing and supportive throughout my life.

Note: This slang term specifically emphasizes a parental or caregiving role rather than a general fostering of something.

foster pet

In this context, 'foster pet' means temporarily caring for an animal until a permanent home can be found, usually through an animal shelter or rescue organization.

Example: I've decided to foster a pet before committing to adoption.

Note: It focuses on providing temporary care rather than long-term support or development.

foster family

A 'foster family' can refer to a group of individuals who provide temporary care and support to someone in need, often offering a sense of belonging and security.

Example: My foster family welcomed me with open arms when I moved to the new city.

Note: Unlike the general term 'foster,' this slang term emphasizes the familial bond and support system within a temporary arrangement.

foster sister/brother

This term is used to describe someone who is not biologically related but is considered a sibling due to shared residence and familial connection within a foster family.

Example: My foster brother and I have grown really close over the years living together.

Note: It highlights the sibling-like relationship formed in a foster family rather than the formal concept of fostering.

foster student

A 'foster student' can refer to a student who is provided with extra assistance or accommodations due to challenging circumstances or special needs.

Example: As a foster student in my high school, I received additional support and resources to help me succeed academically.

Note: It denotes a student under special care or assistance, deviating from the general sense of fostering as promoting development.

Foster - Examples

Foster parents provide a loving home for children in need.

The company fosters a culture of innovation and creativity.

The government is working to foster economic growth in the region.

Foster grammar

Foster - Proper noun (Proper noun) / Proper noun, singular (Proper noun, singular)

Lemma: foster

Conjugations

Adjective (Adjective): foster

Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): fostered

Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): fostering

Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): fosters

Verb, base form (Verb, base form): foster

Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): foster

Syllabification and Stress

foster Contains 2 syllables: fos • ter

Phonetic transcription: ˈfȯ-stər

fos ter , ˈfȯ stər (The red syllable is stressed)

Foster - Importance and usage frequency

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.

foster: ~ 4400 (Common).

This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

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