Word
avowed
US/əˈvaʊd/
UK/ɐvˈaʊd/
Definition
adj. openly said or admitted, with nothing hidden. You use it for beliefs or plans people state clearly in public.
adj. openly declared or acknowledged, without attempt at concealment. Typically placed before the noun it modifies, as in 'avowed intent'.
Examples
“She is an avowed coffee lover and drinks three cups daily.”
“Despite working in finance, he remains an avowed environmentalist who cycles to work every day.”
“An avowed skeptic of grand political promises, she reads every manifesto carefully before deciding whom to trust.”
Examples
simple
“She is an avowed coffee lover and drinks three cups daily.”
contextual
“Despite working in finance, he remains an avowed environmentalist who cycles to work every day.”
complex
“An avowed skeptic of grand political promises, she reads every manifesto carefully before deciding whom to trust.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “avowed” in context.
Verb
01. avowed aim to
“His avowed aim to reform prisons shaped his entire campaign.”
adj + noun + to-inf
02. avowed intention to
“The party stated its avowed intention to cut taxes if elected.”
adj + noun + to-inf
03. become avowed
“After college, she became an avowed opponent of nuclear power.”
verb + adj
Adjective
04. openly avowed
“She is an openly avowed critic of the regime and writes fearlessly.”
adv + adj
Noun
05. avowed atheist
“The novelist was an avowed atheist who questioned religious dogma.”
adj + noun
06. avowed enemy
“He was an avowed enemy of slavery throughout his political career.”
adj + noun
07. avowed feminist
“As an avowed feminist, she campaigned for equal pay legislation.”
adj + noun
08. avowed opponent
“He made his name as an avowed opponent of the death penalty.”
adj + noun
09. avowed supporter
“She is an avowed supporter of free speech and open debate.”
adj + noun
10. an avowed opponent of
“He is an avowed opponent of censorship in all its forms.”
11. declare one's avowed intention to
“The mayor declared his avowed intention to clean up city politics.”
12. openly avowed enemy
“They became openly avowed enemies after the bitter leadership contest.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies.
Real-World Examples
“SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - An avowed Republican activist and supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, who was born in Mexico but lived in the United States illegally for more than 20 years, was found guilty on Friday of identity theft and five counts of alien voter fraud.” “An avowed white supremacist pleaded guilty on Monday to first-degree murder and other state charges in a mass shooting in May that killed 10 people at a supermarket in a predominantly Black neighborhood of Buffalo, New York, prosecutors said.” Etymology
From avow + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/avowed