advertise

or ad·ver·tize

[ ad-ver-tahyz, ad-ver-tahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, ad·ver·tised, ad·ver·tis·ing.

1. to announce or praise (a product, service, etc.) in some public medium of communication in order to induce people to buy or use it:

   to advertise a new brand of toothpaste.

2. to give information to the public about; announce publicly in a newspaper, on radio or television, etc.:

   to advertise a reward.

3. to call attention to, in a boastful or ostentatious manner:

   Stop advertising yourself!

4. Obsolete. to give notice, advice, or information to; inform:

   I advertised him of my intention.

5. Obsolete. to admonish; warn.

verb (used without object)

, ad·ver·tised, ad·ver·tis·ing.

1. to ask for something by placing a notice in a newspaper, over radio or television, etc.:

   to advertise for a house to rent.

2. to offer goods for sale or rent, solicit funds, etc., by means of advertisements:

   It pays to advertise.

3. Cards.
   1. Poker. to bluff so as to make the bluff obvious.
   2. Rummy. to discard a card in order to induce an opponent to discard one of the same suit or denomination.

advertise

/ ˈædvəˌtaɪz /

verb

1. to present or praise (goods, a service, etc) to the public, esp in order to encourage sales
2. to make (something, such as a vacancy, article for sale, etc) publicly known, as to possible applicants, buyers, etc

   to advertise a job

3. intrfoll byfor to make a public request (for), esp in a newspaper, etc

   she advertised for a cook

4. obsolete.
   to warn; caution

Derived Forms

• ˈadverˌtiser, noun

Other Words From

• ad·ver·tis·a·ble [ad, -ver-tahy-z, uh, -b, uh, l, ad-ver-, tahy, -], adjective
• adver·tiser noun
• over·adver·tise verb overadvertised overadvertising
• pre·adver·tise verb preadvertised preadvertising
• pre·adver·tiser noun
• re·adver·tise verb readvertised readvertising
• un·adver·tised adjective
• well-adver·tised adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of advertise¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English advertisen, from Middle French avertiss-, long stem of avertir, from Vulgar Latin advertire (unrecorded), Latin advertere “to pay attention,” literally, “to turn toward” ( advert ¹ ); the expected Middle English advertishen (unrecorded) probably conformed to advertisement or the suffix -ize

Word History and Origins

Origin of advertise¹

C15: from a lengthened stem of Old French avertir, ultimately from Latin advertere to turn one's attention to. See adverse

Example Sentences

To paraphrase Peter Tosh, if Illinois were to legalize it, would you advertise it?

From The Daily Beast

It was an excellent, pointed answer that even managed to advertise her movie.

From The Daily Beast

This is something Uber does to advertise itself to people who might sign up to provide rides for the firm.

From The Daily Beast

Their trailers advertise the cruelties coming to a village near you.

From The Daily Beast

In the end, there may not have been enough money to sufficiently advertise for the film in support of its release.

From The Daily Beast

He seems to think you ought to advertise your steam-engines for thrashing; indeed, I think so too.

From Project Gutenberg

She was furthermore attired in an old Paisley shawl belonging to her grandmother—what better way to advertise a grandmother?

From Project Gutenberg

With a few posters and similar devices to advertise it, it would presently continue to advertise itself.

From Project Gutenberg

But old tales, like old wine, need nothing but themselves to advertise them.

From Project Gutenberg

They began to advertise her sketches as "different" and to build up a vogue.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• announce
• communicate
• disclose
• display
• endorse
• exhibit
• proclaim
• promote
• reveal
• sponsor
• tout