espoused
Americanadjective
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embraced or adopted, as an idea, principle, or cause.
There was an immediate negative reaction to his clearly espoused beliefs on the subject.
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Archaic. married.
Once while I was in medical school, my recently espoused wife was persuaded to come and see me do a post-mortem.
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Archaic. engaged or betrothed.
Espoused couples desiring to be married by the Ministerial Staff are required to complete the six-week preparation course.
verb
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Origin of espoused
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.
He has also espoused a more collegiate style of governance, delegating some particularly sensitive topics to his senior clergy.
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
Stanley espoused an evangelical capitalism that focused on its employees’ personal growth; it recommended salespeople read Dale Carnegie and Norman Vincent Peale.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
When Bin Salman first came to prominence as Saudi defense minister in 2015, he espoused a pugilistic foreign policy that saw him launch the unsuccessful offensive on the Houthis and kidnap Lebanon’s prime minister.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 20, 2026
In the past, Musk has espoused paying penalties rather than waiting for approvals as a way of doing business.
From Salon • Oct. 12, 2025
A pretty dispute followed, in which Edna warmly espoused her father’s cause and the Doctor remained neutral.
From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
