promotion

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   A move to a more senior job or rank within an organization.

   Grammar: Countable for a single event (she got a promotion), uncountable for the general idea (chances of promotion).

   Patterns

   • promotion to something
   • get a promotion
   • a promotion at something

   She earned a promotion to manager after two years.

   Hard work does not always lead to promotion.

   His promotion came with a bigger office and a pay raise.

2. 2nouncountable or uncountablebusiness

   Activity such as advertising or special offers meant to make people aware of and buy a product or support a cause.

   Grammar: A sales promotion is countable; the promotion of a brand is uncountable.

   Patterns

   • the promotion of something
   • a promotion on something

   The shop is running a promotion on winter coats.

   The film's promotion included posters on every bus.

   Charities rely on the promotion of their events through social media.

3. 3noununcountableformal

   The act of encouraging or helping something to grow or to be accepted.

   Grammar: Often followed by of: the promotion of healthy eating.

   Patterns

   • the promotion of something

   The group works for the promotion of literacy among adults.

   Schools support the promotion of good habits.

   The treaty aims at the promotion of peace.

Word forms

Common combinations

get a promotion

He got a promotion last spring.

sales promotion

The sales promotion lasts all weekend.

promotion prospects

Promotion prospects are good at this firm.

special promotion

There is a special promotion on laptops.

promotion to

His promotion to captain was announced today.

Synonyms and how they differ

advancement

Advancement covers any rise in career or status, while promotion is a formal step up in rank.

upgrade

Upgrade often refers to a better product or service tier, not a job rank.

publicity

Publicity is attention a thing gets, whereas promotion is a planned effort to create it.

campaign

A campaign is an organized series of actions, while a promotion can be a single offer.

Opposites

Word family

promote verb

to move up in rank or to advertise

promoter noun

a person who organizes or advertises an event

promotional adjective

relating to advertising

promotive adjective

tending to encourage something

Commonly confused: promotion or demotion?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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