Foster
/ˈfɑːstər/
verbadjectiveB2
Definition
As a verb, "foster" means to encourage or help the growth or development of something, like ideas, relationships, or feelings. It can also mean to take care of a child or animal temporarily. As an adjective, it describes something related to this temporary care, like "foster parents" or "foster home."
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See It in Action
To encourage growth or development
- •The teacher fostered a love of reading in her students.
- •Good communication fosters better relationships.
- •The company fosters innovation by supporting new ideas.
To care for a child or animal temporarily
- •They decided to foster a puppy until it found a permanent home.
- •The child was placed with foster parents for a few months.
- •Foster homes provide safe places for children in need.
Related to temporary care (adjective)
- •She is a foster mother to three children.
- •The foster care system helps children without permanent families.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "foster" like "help" (A1 word), but with a special focus on growth and care over time.
- ✓Picture a gardener watering a young plant to help it grow strong and healthy.
- ✓It's the feeling when you take care of someone or something that needs support to become better.
- ✓Sounds like "FOST-er" → imagine someone "hosting" (sounds similar) a small plant or child, giving them a home and care for a while.
- ✓Think of stories where a child lives with a foster family before finding a permanent home.
- ✓NOT like "own" (permanent), "foster" means temporary care or support.
- ✓NOT like "ignore," "foster" means to pay attention and help grow.
- ✓NOT like "force," "foster" means gentle, positive encouragement, not pushing or demanding.
- ✓NOT like "raise" (which can mean permanent parenting), "foster" is usually temporary or supportive care.
Try Other Words
- •Encourage: to give support or confidence (Use when focusing on motivating or inspiring growth)
- •Nurture: to care for and help grow (Use when emphasizing gentle, loving care)
- •Support: to give assistance (Use for general help or backing)
- •Raise: to bring up a child (Use when care is permanent, not temporary)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix; root word "foster")
- •Etymology: From Old English "fostrian," meaning to nourish, cherish, or bring up
- •Historical development: Originally used for raising children or animals; over time expanded to mean encouraging growth in general
- •Modern usage: Used both for temporary care of children/animals and for encouraging development in many areas like ideas or feelings
Reflect & Connect
•How can fostering positive habits in yourself or others change your daily life?
•What differences do you notice between fostering a child and raising your own child?
Fill in the blanks
1.Teachers often foster ___ in students by creating a friendly learning environment.
2.When a family cannot care for a child, the child may live in a foster ___ temporarily.
3.Foster parents provide ___ care, but they are not the child's permanent family.
4.Good leaders foster ___ among team members to help projects succeed.
5.The organization fosters ___ by supporting young artists.
6.Unlike adoption, fostering usually means the child stays with the family for a ___ time.
7.To foster trust, it is important to be ___ and honest in communication.