Meaning & use
foster skills
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
to help someone develop abilities or practical knowledge over time
Grammar: Used as a verb phrase with an object: foster skills in someone; the object is usually plural.
Patterns
- foster skills in someone
- foster skills through something
- help foster skills
Group projects foster skills in communication and teamwork.
The school aims to foster skills that students will need at work.
Reading widely helps foster skills in analysis and writing.
Common combinations
- foster skills in students
- Teachers use debates to foster skills in students.
- foster skills through practice
- You can foster skills through practice rather than lectures.
- help foster skills
- Mentoring programs help foster skills in young employees.
- foster skills for the workplace
- The course is designed to foster skills for the workplace.
Synonyms and how they differ
- develop skills
- More neutral and common; 'foster skills' often suggests gradual, supportive growth, while 'develop skills' can be more deliberate or self-directed.
- build skills
- Focuses on adding abilities step by step; 'foster' emphasizes creating the right conditions for growth.
- nurture skills
- Closer in meaning, but 'nurture' is warmer and often used for long-term personal growth.
Word family
Commonly confused: foster skills or further skills?
foster skills vs further skills
'Further' means to advance or promote something; it is less common with 'skills' and sounds more formal. 'Foster skills' is the natural choice for helping abilities grow.
Practice
The internship is designed to ______ skills in time management and teamwork.
Choose one answer.
After 'to' in an infinitive of purpose, use the base form 'foster'. 'Fosters' is third-person singular and does not fit after 'to'; 'fostering' and 'fostered' are not used after 'to' here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “foster skills”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.