fostering

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive

   Helping a feeling, skill or activity to grow and develop over time.

   Grammar: -ing form of foster; takes an object: fostering trust.

   Patterns

   • fostering something
   • foster something in someone

   The teacher is fostering a love of reading in her class.

   Fostering trust takes time.

   The program is fostering cooperation between schools.

2. 2verbtransitive or intransitive

   Taking care of a child who is not your own, usually for a limited time and often through an agency.

   Grammar: Can have an object: fostering a child; or none: they are fostering.

   Patterns

   • fostering a child

   They are fostering two siblings this year.

   She has been fostering for ten years.

3. 3noununcountable

   The system or practice of caring for children in a foster home.

   Grammar: Uncountable; also used before another noun: fostering agency.

   Patterns

   • fostering agency
   • fostering and adoption

   Fostering gives children a safe temporary home.

   The agency recruits people for fostering.

Common combinations

fostering a sense of

Fostering a sense of belonging helps.

fostering creativity

The school is fostering creativity.

fostering relationships

Fostering relationships matters.

fostering agency

The fostering agency found a home.

fostering a child

They are fostering a child.

Synonyms and how they differ

nurturing

Stresses gentle care, often of people.

encouraging

Stresses support rather than gradual growth.

cultivating

Suggests careful long-term effort.

Opposites

Word family

foster verb

to encourage; to look after a child

foster child noun

a child raised in foster care

foster care noun

the system of caring for children

Commonly confused: fostering or adopting?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “fostering”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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