# counsel

/ˈkaʊnsəɫ/ (US) · /kˈaʊnsəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/counsel
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. advice or guidance

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

advice or guidance given to someone, especially by a person with authority or wisdom.

For teachers: advice or guidance, particularly that which is given formally or after careful deliberation.

- I am grateful for my grandfather's wise counsel during that difficult time.
- The young king relied heavily on the counsel of his senior ministers to navigate the complex diplomatic crisis.

### 2. a lawyer

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a lawyer or a group of lawyers who represent someone in a court of law.

For teachers: a legal advocate or barrister conducting a case in court; often used as a collective noun for a legal team.

- The defendant sat quietly while his counsel addressed the judge.
- The prosecution's counsel argued that the evidence clearly demonstrated a premeditated attempt to defraud the investors.

### 3. to give advice

verb · CEFR B2

to give professional advice to someone, especially about personal or legal problems.

For teachers: to provide professional guidance or advice to an individual; frequently used in psychological or legal contexts.

- The school has a specialist who can counsel students about their future careers.
- Trained professionals were brought in to counsel the survivors of the disaster and help them process the trauma.

Usage: This verb is transitive and requires a direct object representing the person being advised.

### 4. to recommend an action

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to suggest or recommend that someone should do a specific thing.

For teachers: to recommend or advocate for a specific course of action.

- Most experts counsel patience when investing in the stock market.
- The board of directors counselled caution, suggesting that the company should wait for more stable market conditions before expanding.

## Examples

- He sought wise counsel before making his final decision.
- The defendant sat quietly while his counsel argued that the evidence was purely circumstantial.
- In times of national crisis, the president relies on the counsel of seasoned diplomats whose experience spans several decades of international relations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.