counsel

American  

[kaun-suhl] / ˈkaʊn səl /

noun

• counsel,
  plural
• counsels
  plural

1. advice; opinion or instruction given in directing the judgment or conduct of another.

   Synonyms:

   suggestion, recommendation

2. interchange of opinions as to future procedure; consultation; deliberation.

3. Law. the advocate or advocates engaged in the direction of a cause in court; a legal adviser or counselor.

   Is counsel for the defense present?

   Synonyms:

   barrister, solicitor, attorney, lawyer

4. deliberate purpose; plan; design.

5. Theology. one of the advisory declarations of Christ, considered by some Christians as not universally binding but as given for aid in attaining moral perfection.

6. Archaic. a private or secret opinion or purpose.

7. Obsolete. wisdom; prudence.

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verb (used with object)

• counsels,
  present (3rd person singular)
• counseled,
  past participle,  past
• counselled,
  past participle,  past (especially British)
• counseling,
  present participle
• counselling
  present participle (especially British)

1. to give advice to; advise.

2. to urge the adoption of, as a course of action; recommend (a plan, policy, etc.).

   He counseled patience during the crisis.

verb (used without object)

• counsels,
  present (3rd person singular)
• counseled,
  past participle,  past
• counselled,
  past participle,  past (especially British)
• counseling,
  present participle
• counselling
  present participle (especially British)

1. to give counsel or advice.

2. to get or take counsel or advice.

idioms

1. keep one's own counsel, to conceal one's ideas or opinions; keep silent.

2. take counsel, to ask for or exchange advice, ideas, or opinions; deliberate; consult.

counsel British  

/ ˈkaʊnsəl /

noun

1. advice or guidance on conduct, behaviour, etc

2. discussion, esp on future procedure; consultation

   to take counsel with a friend

3. a person whose advice or guidance is or has been sought

4. a barrister or group of barristers engaged in conducting cases in court and advising on legal matters

   counsel for the prosecution

5. a policy or plan

6. Christianity any of the counsels of perfection or evangelical counsels , namely poverty, chastity, and obedience

7. excellent but unrealizable advice

8. private opinions or plans (esp in the phrase keep one's own counsel )

9. archaic wisdom; prudence

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verb

1. (tr) to give advice or guidance to

2. (tr; often takes a clause as object) to recommend the acceptance of (a plan, idea, etc); urge

3. archaic (intr) to take counsel; consult

counsel More Idioms  

1. see keep one's own counsel.

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Commonly Confused

See council.

See council

Synonym Usage

See advice.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• precounsel
  noun
• recounsel
  verb (used with object)
• counselable
  adjective
• counsellable
  adjective
• uncounseled
  adjective
• uncounselled
  adjective
• well-counseled
  adjective
• well-counselled
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• counsel
  plural
• counsels
  plural

Participles

• counseling
  present
• counselling
  present
• counseled
  past
• counselled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• counsel
  simple
• counsels
  simple
• have counseled
  perfect
• have counselled
  perfect
• has counseled
  perfect
• has counselled
  perfect
• am counseling
  progressive
• am counselling
  progressive
• are counseling
  progressive
• are counselling
  progressive
• is counseling
  progressive
• is counselling
  progressive
• have been counseling
  perfect progressive
• have been counselling
  perfect progressive
• has been counseling
  perfect progressive
• has been counselling
  perfect progressive

Past

• counseled
  simple
• counselled
  simple
• had counseled
  perfect
• had counselled
  perfect
• was counseling
  progressive
• was counselling
  progressive
• were counseling
  progressive
• were counselling
  progressive
• had been counseling
  perfect progressive
• had been counselling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will counsel
  simple
• will have counseled
  perfect
• will have counselled
  perfect
• will be counseling
  progressive
• will be counselling
  progressive
• will have been counseling
  perfect progressive
• will have been counselling
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of counsel

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English noun counseil, from Anglo-French cunseil, Old French conseil, concile from Latin consilium “debate, advice, advisory body, plan,” equivalent to consil-, variant stem of consulere “to apply for advice” + -ium noun suffix; verb from Anglo-French cunseiler, Old French conseillier, from Late Latin consiliāre, derivative of consilium; see consult, -ium

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Explanation

When you give counsel or counsel someone, you give advice. If your neighbor is suing you because your dog keeps eating his begonias, you might seek the counsel of a dog trainer or, if that doesn't work, a lawyer. You can get professional counsel — from a minister or psychiatrist or someone else trained in counseling — or you can get counsel from anyone you trust. You can ask your stylish friend to counsel you on your hairstyle, or you could write to Dear Abby for counsel on your lovelife. Counsel is also what you call a lawyer who represents you in court. In your begonia-eating dog case, your lawyer would be counsel for the defense.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

counsel counsels counseled counselled counseling counselling

The former federal prosecutor who spent five years as USC’s general counsel inherited a deficit of more than $200 million.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

Zacharia told Buck Sexton on “The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show” in February 2025 that she had worked as outside counsel to the International Finance Corporation and the World Bank while based in China.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Campaign for Accountability said Zacharia had described herself as a lawyer during television appearances and listed herself as general counsel of a California-based conservative nonprofit.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Prosecuting counsel Christopher Paxton, KC, asked the mother if there were any concerns about how her son was using his phone and if she was checking his phone.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

“If I become corporation counsel you shall be my assistant.”

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

But 9/11 barely registers with Muslims he counsels.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

In the latest installment of Unhinged, Slate’s dating advice column, Steffi Cao counsels a woman whose dates are uncomfortable with her having the financial upper hand.

From Slate ● Sep. 3, 2026

At the same time, the new “Little House on the Prairie” counsels that independence is more of a tall tale than a reality for a nation healing from the wounds of conflict.

From Salon ● Jul. 11, 2026

“How to Get Rich in American History” counsels an active rather than passive approach to making money.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

But in the days of Bilbo, and of Frodo his heir, they suddenly became, by no wish of their own, both important and renowned, and troubled the counsels of the Wise and the Great.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Experience: Bruno said he attended community college and as a therapist has counseled children, adults and families.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

While we have counseled that speculating on earnings reports is gambling, it remains one of the most prevalent pastimes in the stock and options market.

From Barron's ● Apr. 28, 2026

When I told one athleisure-clad woman that it would be easier to read Morse code than the “card,” she counseled patience.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026

Don’t wait until you are old to get started, Magnusson counseled.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026

“I hope some good natured way or other will be found out to untie this very intricate knot,” he counseled.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Trauma psychologist Gayle Sturrock, who has counselled hundreds of ballet dancers, said: "If you're told you're not good enough, you're useless, constantly… that gets hard-wired in."

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2023

With the rattled country shut down for Tisha B'av, the fast day mourning the destruction of two ancient Jewish temples in Jerusalem blamed by the sages on needless infighting, Israelis leaders counselled soul-searching.

From Reuters ● Jul. 27, 2023

In every family he’d ever counselled, his clients had accepted their own deaths.

From Slate ● Sep. 24, 2022

They meet once a month after nominations close on 31 January each year, counselled by a group of permanent advisers and other experts.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 8, 2021

Now in their debate some had counselled that Minas Morgul should first be assailed, and if they might take it, it should be utterly destroyed.

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Starting at age 15, they learn the family and company history, receive training in personal finance and get counseling on their education and careers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026

Local governments and universities have launched programs including career counseling, vocational training and AI-related courses aimed at preparing students for a changing labor market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

This debt balance is lower than older generations seeking out credit counseling at the firm, but it’s rising 12% annually.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026

The university was also offering support and counseling services to faculty and staff.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

Meanwhile, Grandma enrolled our family in counseling to get us through the transition and bring us together.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

After counselling Ben saw an improvement, and is now an advocate for more support for men and boys.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

Nepal's prime minister, Balendra Shah, said there was a renewed emphasis on protecting the lives of survivors, providing medical treatment and psychological counselling.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

Cassidy said: "The fire service got us all down one by one. All the emergency services were offering us counselling."

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026

Those plans include counselling rooms in every school, psychiatric services in at least one hospital in every county and more mental health professionals.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

It confined itself, in fact, to counselling the Government to a transitory step—the raising of the export duties on silver....

From The History of Currency, 1252 to 1896 by William Arthur Shaw

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