It’s a word you hear frequently in sports, when you’re talking about a winner, someone who’s made it to the top. The meaning we’re going to learn is actually very similar. As a verb, “to champion” means to promote, to “talk up,” or to advertise positively. You can champion a person or a cause, trying to get people to support them.

Example: “After the terrible earthquake that nearly destroyed the city, local officials and celebrities championed the movement to replace the wooden buildings with reinforced concrete.”