foster
FOSS-ter
/ˈfɒstə(r)/
To encourage, nurture, or promote the development and growth of something (such as an idea, feeling, or relationship).
Foster implies active, continuous care and support over a period of time, rather than a single act of help.
The story behind the word. 'Foster' comes from the Old English word 'fostrian,' meaning 'to nourish' or 'to bring up.' This is closely related to 'foster' (food or nourishment). It carries the warm, nurturing connotation of feeding and caring for something until it can grow and thrive on its own, which is why we also use it for 'foster parents.'
Word relationships
- nurture: Nurture emphasizes tender care and physical or emotional feeding, while foster is often used for abstract qualities like innovation, growth, or cooperation.
- promote: Promote can imply publicizing or advancing a cause, whereas foster focuses on the slow, internal cultivation of a quality.
- stifle: Stifle means to suppress, suffocate, or prevent the development of something, which is the direct opposite of fostering it.
- discourage: Discourage means to attempt to prevent something from happening.
Commonly confused with
- force: Forcing demands immediate compliance, while fostering gently encourages natural growth over time.
Word family
- fostered (adjective): Nurtured or encouraged.
- fostering (noun): The act of promoting or nurturing growth.
Collocations
- foster growth
- foster relationships
- foster innovation
- foster a sense of
Idioms & expressions
- foster goodwill
Example sentences
- "The teacher designed collaborative projects to foster a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect among the students." Discussing educational strategies.
Memory hook
Think of 'food' and 'nourish'. Fostering is like feeding a tiny seedling with water and sunlight until it grows into a massive tree. Foster is to feed and nurture.
When not to use
Do not use 'foster' if you are describing sudden, rapid growth that happens without external support.
Fun facts
- In Old English, a 'foster-father' was literally a 'food-father'—the person who provided nourishment to a child.
- The word 'food' and 'foster' share a common Proto-Indo-European root, *pa-, which means 'to feed.'
Related words
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