Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun foster

1 sense of foster

Sense 1
Foster, Stephen Foster, Stephen Collins Foster -- (United States songwriter whose songs embody the sentiment of the South before the American Civil War (1826-1864))
       INSTANCE OF=> songwriter, songster, ballad maker -- (a composer of words or music for popular songs)

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb foster

3 senses of foster

Sense 1
foster, further -- (promote the growth of; "Foster our children's well-being and education")
       => promote, advance, boost, further, encourage -- (contribute to the progress or growth of; "I am promoting the use of computers in the classroom")

Sense 2
foster -- (bring up under fosterage; of children)
       => rear, raise, bring up, nurture, parent -- (bring up; "raise a family"; "bring up children")

Sense 3
foster, nurture -- (help develop, help grow; "nurture his talents")
       => encourage -- (inspire with confidence; give hope or courage to)

Antonyms of adj foster

1 sense of foster

Sense 1
foster, surrogate -- (providing or receiving nurture or parental care though not related by blood or legal ties; "foster parent"; "foster child"; "foster home"; "surrogate father")

INDIRECT (VIA adoptive) -> biological -- (of parents and children; related by blood; "biological child")

Similarity of adj foster

1 sense of foster

Sense 1
foster, surrogate -- (providing or receiving nurture or parental care though not related by blood or legal ties; "foster parent"; "foster child"; "foster home"; "surrogate father")
       => adoptive (vs. biological) -- (of parents and children; related by adoption; "adoptive parents")