foster - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
foster Word Meanings
- to encourage the development of something
- to care for a child taken into one's home
- to promote growth or nurturing
foster Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
foster Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈfɒstə/
US
/ˈfɔstər/
foster Word Etymology
Foster comes from Old English 'fostrian' (to nourish), related to 'fostor' (nourishment). Origin: Old English → Middle English → Modern English. Imagine nurturing a young plant, watering it carefully to help it grow strong.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
First I reach for a sketch, set it on the table, and move the pieces into a rough plan. I push through doubts, adjust the steps, and keep the pace steady. I treat the work like something alive, caring for it and watching it change and grow. That patient care is fostering in action, helping people or projects develop.
Real Context
Foster is a versatile English verb with several closely related uses. It can mean to encourage the development of a skill, program, or idea by providing support, resources, or mentorship. It can also describe the act of taking a child into one's home and caring for them, typically temporarily, with the possibility of a longer arrangement. In everyday speech, people often say they want to foster creativity, foster a love of learning, or foster a community. The term conveys active nurturing and continual attention to growth rather than passive approval, and it highlights process, effort, and ongoing engagement.
Usage Reminders
- Always pair foster with active support; contrast with adopt for permanent status; use with concrete nouns (foster a talent, foster a relationship); remember foster care refers to temporary guardianship; prefer nurture or encourage for abstract ideas when subtle emphasis is needed.
Common Misconceptions
- It always means adopting a child permanently
- It only relates to caring for children, not ideas
- It is passive or passive consent
- Foster care equals formal adoption
- Foster can only be used in official programs
Thinking Differences
English frames foster as active nurturing and deliberate development, often with a focus on progress and growth across contexts beyond childcare.
Learning Tips
- Create separate lists for 'foster' as care vs. 'foster' as encouragement
- Practice with collocations: foster a relationship, foster growth, foster creativity
- Compare with nurture and promote to feel nuance
- Use 'foster care' correctly as a system of temporary guardianship
- Read sentences aloud to feel the intensity of action
- Write your own sentences to reinforce contexts
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What does the word 'foster' mean?
A.To cook food in an oven
B.To encourage or promote the development of something
C.To swim in the ocean
D.To fix a broken object
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses the word 'foster' correctly?
A.The company wanted to foster new ideas for growth.
B.She decided to foster a recipe for disaster.
C.The student wanted to foster a cake for the bake sale.
D.He tried to foster the leak in the roof.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar to 'foster'?
A.Avoid
B.Destroy
C.Encourage
D.Forget
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'foster'?
A.Promote
B.Support
C.Hinder
D.Nurture
Step 5: Mastery
Can you think of a real-life context for the word 'foster'?
A.The team encouraged a spirit of collaboration.
B.He helped her build a business from scratch.
C.She nurtured her relationship with her friend.
D.They avoided any conflict in the workplace.
Related Listening
🔥 Advanced
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