advertise
B1Neutral to Formal (in professional contexts). Also common in everyday speech.
Definition
Meaning
To present or promote (a product, service, event, or vacancy) to the public, typically through paid announcements, in order to encourage interest, sales, or applications.
To make something generally or publicly known; to draw attention to a particular quality, fact, or intention, sometimes indirectly.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a transitive verb. Focus is on the act of promotion via a channel (TV, internet, poster). Can imply a neutral, positive, or (contextually) negative intent (e.g., 'advertise one's ignorance').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'advertise' is the standard spelling for the verb. In American English, 'advertise' is most common, but 'advertize' is a rare, archaic variant. The noun forms 'advertisement' (UK: /ədˈvɜːtɪsmənt/; US: /ˌædvərˈtaɪzmənt/) and the clipping 'ad' are used in both.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally frequent and central in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[V] + object (They will advertise the new model.)[V] + for + object (We need to advertise for a new accountant.)[V] + that-clause (The poster advertised that the concert was sold out.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Advertise oneself (as something): To present oneself publicly in a particular way, often to gain an advantage.”
- “Nothing to advertise: Having no particular features or qualities worth drawing attention to.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Core term for marketing and HR activities. 'The campaign will advertise the product's unique features.'
Academic
Used in discussions of media, consumer culture, or economics. 'The study analyses how firms advertise to different demographics.'
Everyday
Common when discussing sales, job hunting, or events. 'I saw they're advertising a huge sale at the mall.'
Technical
Used in computing/digital contexts (e.g., 'advertise a network service').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The local shop is advertising for a Saturday assistant.
- It's illegal to advertise cigarettes on television.
American English
- The company will heavily advertise the new software release.
- He didn't advertise the fact that he was leaving.
adverb
British English
- N/A (The form 'advertisingly' is virtually nonexistent and non-standard.)
American English
- N/A (The form 'advertisingly' is virtually nonexistent and non-standard.)
adjective
British English
- The advertised start time was 7 PM.
- The product did not match its advertised specifications.
American English
- The advertised salary is negotiable.
- We arrived for the advertised discount event.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- They advertise toys on TV.
- The school will advertise the concert.
- The supermarket is advertising a special offer on fruit.
- He saw the job advertised online.
- The charity campaign was cleverly advertised across social media platforms.
- By dressing so formally, he seemed to be advertising his professional status.
- The government has been accused of advertising the policy's benefits while downplaying its significant costs.
- Her constant complaints merely advertised her profound dissatisfaction with the team's direction.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ADVERTise: Think of an ADVERT (an advertisement) you SEE. To advertise is to make people see your advert.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY IS A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT / ATTRACTING ATTENTION IS A MAGNET.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'рекламировать' for non-commercial 'announcing' (e.g., 'He advertised his departure' is odd; use 'announced').
- The phrase 'advertise for' (искать через рекламу) is specific and common: 'We are advertising for a chef.'
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'They advertised about the new policy.' Correct: 'They advertised the new policy.'
- Incorrect: 'He advertised me his car.' Correct: 'He advertised his car (to me).' / 'He offered me his car.'
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is the word 'advertise' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Advertise' strongly implies a purpose of promotion, persuasion, or attracting interest (often commercial). 'Announce' is more neutral, meaning to make a formal or public statement about a fact or intention.
Yes, it can be used for events, job vacancies, or personal qualities (e.g., 'advertise one's loyalty'), though in the latter case it often carries a slightly negative connotation of showing off.
In modern standard English, 'advertise' is the universally accepted spelling. 'Advertize' is an obsolete or non-standard variant, primarily associated with archaic American usage, and should be avoided.
It depends. Use no preposition for the thing being promoted ('advertise a car'). Use 'for' when seeking something ('advertise for a car' means you want to buy one). Use 'on/in/through' for the medium ('advertise on the radio').
Collections
Part of a collection
Media and Communication
B1 · 50 words · Language for discussing media and communication.