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advertise

American  
[ad-ver-tahyz, ad-ver-tahyz] / ˈæd vərˌtaɪz, ˌæd vərˈtaɪz /
Or advertize

verb (used with object)

advertised, advertising
  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)

advertised, advertising
  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 British  
/ 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. to make a public request (for), esp in a newspaper, etc

    she advertised for a cook

  4. obsolete to warn; caution

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of advertise

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” ( see advert 1); the expected Middle English advertishen (unrecorded) probably conformed to advertisement or the suffix -ize

Explanation

The verb advertise means to publicize a service or product in order to try to get you to buy or use it. If you see people eating delicious-looking chocolate in a television commercial, for example, you'll probably want to buy it. You don't have to use television, radio, or print media to advertise something — or even try to sell it at all. In fact, the word advertise can also simply mean to call attention to something. Your neighbors might advertise their lottery win by parking flashy cars in the driveway and having an endless supply of packages delivered to their house.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing advertise

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Not to insult anyone, but this was a huge misunderstanding,” Troy Teague, one of Johnson’s attorneys, told Rice, according to the Montgomery Advertise r.

From Washington Times • Aug. 27, 2020

Advertise they duly did and Essandoh was the lucky applicant.

From The Guardian • Jan. 11, 2013

Frog Songs Advertise Real Estate Singing in the shower isn't a turn on—unless you're a frog.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 22, 2011

Today it's a case of going from the ridiculous to the sublime as Jimmy Fortune, one of the strongest riders around, takes over at Chepstow as Advertise moves up to a mile.

From The Guardian • May 25, 2010

“I took out a loan last year to grow the business. Get more supplies. Advertise in the paper. That sort of thing.”

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan