1. (常出于广告目的而)赞助，资助
    If an organization or an individual sponsors something such as an event or someone's training, they pay some or all of the expenses connected with it, often in order to get publicity for themselves.

    e.g. Mercury, in association with The Independent, is sponsoring Britain's first major Pop Art exhibition for over 20 years...
           《信使报》正携手《独立报》一起为 20 多年来英国举办的首届大型通俗艺术展览提供赞助。
    e.g. The competition was sponsored by Ruinart Champagne...
           比赛是由慧纳酒庄赞助的。

2. (为慈善事业而)赞助，资助
    In Britain, if you sponsor someone who is doing something to raise money for charity, for example trying to walk a certain distance, you agree to give them a sum of money for the charity if they succeed in doing it.

    e.g. Please could you sponsor me for my school's campaign for Help the Aged?
           我在参加我们学校举办的“助老”募捐活动，您能赞助我吗？

3. 倡议，发起(某项提议或建议)
    If you sponsor a proposal or suggestion, you officially put it forward and support it.

sponsor的反义词

    e.g. Eight senators sponsored legislation to stop the military funding.
           8 位参议员支持立法停止军事拨款。

4. (国家或组织)发起，组织，主办
    When a country or an organization such as the United Nations sponsors negotiations between countries, it suggests holding the negotiations and organizes them.

    e.g. Given the strength of pressure on both sides, the superpowers may well have difficulties sponsoring negotiations...
           迫于来自对方的强大压力，两个超级大国想要组织谈判肯定会有困难。
    e.g. The protest comes on the eve of two days of talks in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, sponsored by the United Nations.
           抗议活动发生在联合国组织的于埃塞俄比亚首都亚的斯亚贝巴进行的为期两天的会谈即将开始前。

5. (一国)坐视(某次袭击事件)而不顾，支持
    If one country accuses another of sponsoring attacks on it, they mean that the other country does not do anything to prevent the attacks, and may even encourage them.

    e.g. We have to make the states that sponsor terrorism pay a price.
           我们必须让那些支持恐怖主义的国家付出代价。

6. 赞助(电视节目);做…的广告赞助商
    If a company or organization sponsors a television programme, they pay to have a special advertisement shown at the beginning and end of the programme, and at each commercial break.

    e.g. Companies will now be able to sponsor programmes on ITV and Channel 4.
           现在公司可以在独立电视台和第 4 频道上出资做节目广告了。

7. 赞助人;资助人;倡议者;发起人;主办者
    A sponsor is a person or organization that sponsors something or someone.

    e.g. I understand Coca-Cola are to be named as the new sponsors of the League Cup later this week...
           我知道可口可乐公司将在本周晚些时候被指定为联赛杯的新赞助商。
    e.g. The chief sponsor of the New York law, state Senator Emanuel Gold, says he's not giving up.
           纽约州立法的主要倡议人州参议员伊曼纽尔·戈尔德说，他不会放弃。