What does "advise" mean?

1. (to give a recommendation) to tell someone what you think they should do in a particular situation. 2. (to inform formally) to give someone official information or a formal notice about something. 3. (to deliberate) to think carefully about something before making a decision.

How do you use "advise"?

Commonly used in the pattern 'advise someone to do something' or 'advise that someone should do something'. Frequently appears in the passive voice as 'please be advised that...' in formal correspondence.

advise — meaning, definition & examples

Q: Is it correct to say "I would like some advise on this matter."?

No — say "I would like some advice on this matter.". Advise is the verb (the action); advice is the noun (the thing).

Word

01to give a recommendation

B1 · Intermediate

v. to tell someone what you think they should do in a particular situation.

v. to offer a recommendation or opinion to be followed. Transitive; often takes an object and an infinitive or a 'that' clause.

“The doctor advised him to eat less salt and exercise more often.”

“Legal experts strongly advise that the company review its safety protocols before the new legislation takes effect next month.”

Usage

Commonly used in the pattern 'advise someone to do something' or 'advise that someone should do something'.

Pitfall

I would like some advise on this matter.

I would like some advice on this matter.

Advise is the verb (the action); advice is the noun (the thing).

Synonyms

recommend counsel suggest

02to inform formally

B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal

v. to give someone official information or a formal notice about something.

v. to formally notify or provide information to a person or organisation. Often used in professional or legal contexts.

“Please be advised that the office will be closed for the holiday.”

“The bank wrote to advise us of a change in the interest rates affecting our savings account.”

Usage

Frequently appears in the passive voice as 'please be advised that...' in formal correspondence.

Synonyms

inform notifyapprise

03to deliberate

C2 · Proficiency Law Formal · Archaic

v. to think carefully about something before making a decision.

v. to consider or deliberate on a matter. Intransitive; now largely restricted to legal or highly formal contexts.

“The council took time to advise before announcing their final decision.”

“The court will take time to advise upon the arguments presented before delivering a written judgment next term.”

Synonyms

deliberate consider ponder

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “advise” in context.

Verb

01. advise against

“Doctors advise against eating too much sugar for a healthy diet.”

verb + prep

02. advise on

“She is an expert who can advise on legal matters for small businesses.”

verb + prep

03. advise that-clause

“The travel agent advised that we arrive at the airport three hours early.”

verb + that-clause

04. strongly advise

“I strongly advise you to check the weather before you go hiking.”

adv + verb

Noun

05. advise the client

“The lawyer will advise the client on the best way to proceed with the case.”

verb + noun

06. advise the government

“A group of scientists was chosen to advise the government on climate change.”

verb + noun

advise vs advice

Advise is the action of giving a suggestion, while advice is the suggestion itself.

RememberAdvise has an 's' for 'Speak'; Advice has a 'c' for 'Concept'.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Latin ad Old French a Proto-Indo-European *weyd-der. Proto-Italic *widēō Latin videō Latin vīsus Old French vis Old French avis Old French aviserbor. Middle English avisen ▲ Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *weyd- Proto-Indo-European *-(h₁)seti Proto-Indo-European *wéydseti Proto-Italic *weidsō Latin visō Late Latin advisōder. English advise From Middle English avisen (“to perceive, consider, inform”), from Old French aviser, from avis, or from Late Latin advisō, from ad + visō. See also advice.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

VERB

advise(B1)

NOUN

ADJECTIVE

Verb + object + to-infinitive