foster

To help a feeling, ability, or relationship grow and become stronger.

• These games foster creativity.
• The project fostered trust between neighbors.
• How can teachers foster confidence in shy children?

How to use it: foster something (Group projects can foster cooperation.)

Similar words: encourage, promote, nurture

Opposites: discourage, hinder

Common phrases: foster trust, foster creativity, foster cooperation

To bring up a child, especially one whose own parents cannot care for them.

• They foster two children.
• We fostered a baby for several months.
• Have you ever thought about fostering?

How to use it: foster someone (They decided to foster a young boy.)

Similar words: bring up, raise

Common phrases: foster a child, foster children

To hold a feeling or idea close and keep it alive in your mind.

• She fostered a secret hope.
• For years, he fostered resentment toward his brother.
• They still foster the dream of a peaceful future.

How to use it: foster something (He continued to foster a hope of returning home.)

Similar words: cherish, harbor, nurse

Common phrases: foster a hope, foster a dream, foster resentment

Caring for a child whose own parents cannot look after them.

• Her foster parents are very kind.
• He stayed with a foster family for six months.
• Would you like to become a foster carer?

Common phrases: foster parents, foster mother, foster family

Living with adults who care for you because your own parents cannot.

• Their foster daughter loves drawing.
• Two foster children joined the family last year.
• His foster son still visits every weekend.

Common phrases: foster child, foster daughter, foster son

An adult who cares for a child whose own parents cannot look after them.

• The agency thanked every foster.
• Some fosters later adopt the children in their care.
• New fosters receive support from experienced carers.

Similar words: foster parent, foster carer

Common phrases: experienced foster, a new foster