espouse

American  

[ih-spauz, ih-spaus] / ɪˈspaʊz, ɪˈspaʊs /

verb (used with object)

• espouses,
  present (3rd person singular)
• espoused,
  past participle,  past
• espousing
  present participle

1. to make one's own; adopt or embrace, as a cause.

   Synonyms:

   advocate, champion, support

2. Archaic. to marry.

3. Archaic. to give or promise to give (a woman) in marriage.

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espouse British  

/ ɪˈspaʊz /

verb

1. to adopt or give support to (a cause, ideal, etc)

   to espouse socialism

2. archaic (esp of a man) to take as spouse; marry

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• espouser
  noun

Inflected Forms

Participles

• espousing
  present
• espoused
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• espouse
  simple
• espouses
  simple
• have espoused
  perfect
• has espoused
  perfect
• am espousing
  progressive
• are espousing
  progressive
• is espousing
  progressive
• have been espousing
  perfect progressive
• has been espousing
  perfect progressive

Past

• espoused
  simple
• had espoused
  perfect
• was espousing
  progressive
• were espousing
  progressive
• had been espousing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will espouse
  simple
• will have espoused
  perfect
• will be espousing
  progressive
• will have been espousing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of espouse

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French espouser , from Latin spōnsāre “to betroth, espouse”

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Explanation

Use the verb espouse to describe the actions of someone who lives according to specific beliefs, such as your friends who espouse environmentalism and as a result walk whenever possible instead of taking the car. You can see the word spouse in espouse, so you may be wondering what husbands and wives have to do with it. Originally espouse did mean "to marry," but its meaning has evolved to include other long-term commitments as well, such as support for a principle or a cause. Similar to marriage, if you espouse a belief system, the idea is that you've chosen to wed yourself to it.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

espouse espouses espoused espousing

“It makes sense for EssilorLuxottica to espouse a conservative message on the fourth quarter.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026

"I have no doubt whatsoever that the people who espouse theories like those promoted by this individual will continue to disseminate them," Nunez added, referring to some French politicians.

From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026

"This is wholly unacceptable and does not align with the values and behaviours that we espouse or endorse as a service," he said.

From BBC ● Feb. 5, 2025

Campaigning in the Wisconsin primary in Milwaukee one morning, I heard Carter espouse one position on school busing that seemed to please a predominately Black church congregation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 31, 2024

And who were the first to espouse the cause of Christ, after his resurrection?

From Recollections of Windsor Prison; Containing Sketches of its History and Discipline with Appropriate Strictures and Moral and Religious Reflection by John N. Reynolds

He largely espouses esoteric prognostications of how 8 billion human deaths could be wrought by hostile machines, and even though many that admit this outcome is unlikely, it takes up a lot of their attention.

From Slate ● Sep. 15, 2026

It espouses a very conservative view of the family, which it says should consist of "a father, a mother and as many children as possible."

From BBC ● Apr. 11, 2026

Mr. King espouses a refreshing perspective on his craft that is anything but preachy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026

Pitt espouses a concept of simplicity in his men’s skincare routine — a three-step ritual starting with cleansing, serum to target signs of aging and then cream to lock in moisture.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 5, 2026

She espouses the dowager's side; upholds the two children in their petty tyranny.

From Elster's Folly by Mrs. Henry Wood

For a city that’s espoused much pride in its military history, the nature of the theft was as much an insult as it was an injury.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

While studying history in Switzerland, home to a large Albanian diaspora, he became frustrated with the policy of peaceful resistance espoused by the late Kosovo president Ibrahim Rugova.

From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026

Jørgensen worked in a co-working space shared with colleagues and espoused “the Novo Nordisk way,” telling “60 Minutes”: “The values are based on ordinary human decent values.”

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 5, 2026

In addition, having cast off the rule of Spain’s Catholic monarchy, the newly formed Dutch Republic espoused a greater, though still incomplete, sense of religious tolerance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Here, in case you don’t know what it is yet, is the perennial example, as espoused by Harold Ross: “The flag is red, white, and blue.”

From "Eats, Shoots & Leaves" by Author

Soares has for years been espousing the extinction-level dangers of AI.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

At some point, their mother began policing their discussions, particularly as he started espousing more progressive beliefs, her brother recalled.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

Perhaps the most committed advocate is Dutchman Wim Hof, who has made a career of espousing its purported health benefits.

From Barron's ● Feb. 13, 2026

He added: "Anyone espousing extremist views or who expresses support for terrorism, or racial or religious hatred of any kind, including antisemitism, who is not a British citizen, should be removed from this country."

From BBC ● Feb. 10, 2026

Forty years later he’d still be espousing ideas put forth by Armstrong and the Plain Truth.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

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Related Words

• adopt
• advocate
• defend
• embrace
• maintain
• uphold

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