ENGLISH
REFERENCE

advertise

v.
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ˈædvɝˌtaɪz// UK //ˈædvətˌaɪz// ad·ver·tise Archaic General-service

v. to tell the public about a product or service to encourage them to buy it. You can do this through posters, social media, or television.

v. to describe or present a product, service, or event in a public medium to promote sales or attendance. Transitive in its primary sense; can also be used intransitively to describe the general act of promotion.


SIMPLE

The company plans to advertise its new phone on social media.

CONTEXTUAL

Local businesses often advertise in the community newspaper to reach customers who live nearby.

COMPLEX

While many brands advertise through traditional television commercials, younger audiences are increasingly reached through targeted digital campaigns that appear directly in their social feeds.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English advertisen, from Anglo-Norman advertir (“to inform”), avertir, Middle French advertir, avertir (“to warn, give notice to”), with the French -iss- infix assimilated to -ise, -ize and probably influenced by the noun advertisement. Compare also advert.

Usage

The verb is transitive when followed by the product or service being promoted; it is intransitive when referring to the general activity.

Pitfall

They advertise about their productsThey advertise their productsThe verb is transitive and takes a direct object; it does not require the preposition 'about'.

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