推动 means 'to promote' or 'to drive forward'—it conveys the idea of actively advancing something, such as a project, policy, idea, or process. Literally, 推 (tuī) means 'to push', and 动 (dòng) means 'to move' or 'to set in motion'; together, they form a compound verb emphasizing purposeful, energetic action to create progress or change.

This word is commonly used in formal, written, or professional contexts—such as business reports, news articles, government documents, or academic discussions—to describe efforts that stimulate development, reform, innovation, or social improvement. It rarely appears in casual speech or personal narratives; native speakers typically use simpler verbs like 帮助 (help) or 支持 (support) in informal settings. While it can be transitive (taking a direct object), it’s often followed by 的 to form an attributive phrase (e.g., 推动改革的措施).