Meaning & use
advertise
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Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
To tell the public about a product, service, or event in order to make people buy it or attend.
Grammar: Can be used with an object ('advertise a product') or without ('they advertise on TV').
Patterns
- advertise something
- advertise for someone
- advertise in a place
- advertise on TV
The company advertises its new phones on social media.
We need to advertise the concert so more people come.
They advertise in local newspapers every week.
verbtransitive
To make something known publicly, often something private or not meant to be shared.
Grammar: Often used in the negative: 'didn't advertise the fact'.
Patterns
- advertise the fact that
- advertise something
She didn't advertise her plans to leave the company.
He was careful not to advertise his mistake.
They advertised the good news to everyone.
verbintransitive
To ask for someone or something by putting a notice in a newspaper or online.
Grammar: Usually followed by 'for': 'advertise for a new manager'.
Patterns
- advertise for someone
- advertise for something
The school is advertising for a new French teacher.
They advertised for a room to rent in the city.
We advertised for volunteers and got a great response.
Word forms
| third person singular | advertises |
|---|---|
| past tense | advertised |
| past participle | advertised |
| -ing form | advertising |
Common combinations
- advertise a product
- They advertise their products on TV.
- advertise for staff
- The hotel is advertising for staff.
- advertise online
- More small shops now advertise online.
- widely advertised
- The event was widely advertised.
Synonyms and how they differ
- promote
- Often means to support or encourage something as well as to advertise it; can be used for ideas, not just products.
- publicize
- Focuses on making something known to the public, not necessarily to sell it.
- market
- A business term meaning to advertise and sell a product, often as part of a plan.
Opposites
Word family
- advertisement noun
- A notice or film that advertises something.
- advertising noun
- The activity or business of advertising.
- advertiser noun
- A person or company that advertises.
Commonly confused: advertise or advert?
advertise vs advert
Advert is a noun (British, informal); advertise is the verb. You advertise something, but you see an advert.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
When you ask for someone by putting a notice, you 'advertise for' them. The other prepositions do not fit this meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “advertise”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.