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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

• advertisable adjective
• advertiser noun
• overadvertise verb
• preadvertise verb
• preadvertiser noun
• readvertise verb
• unadvertised adjective
• well-advertised adjective

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.

Example Sentences

You don’t feel the need to advertise your wealth and, despite your efforts, fancy stuff doesn’t make you feel like you’re looking in a mirror at an image of your own self-satisfaction.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

Until recently, he used the community group's website to advertise his legal work.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

“Amazon is making a big push for advertisers who don’t typically advertise on Amazon,” Canaves said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

To advertise her business, she affixed a decal and phone number to her white 1984 Pontiac Fiero, a sporty two-seater with retractable headlights.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

Since Burger was an accomplished artist and violin player, he was instructed to set up a studio and advertise his services as a commercial artist in the Chicago Tribune newspaper.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

Related Words

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