advertise

verb

ad·​ver·​tise ˈad-vər-ˌtīz 

advertised; advertising; advertises

1

transitive + intransitive : to make the public aware of (something or someone) especially by means of a published or broadcast notice

a web page advertising upcoming events

: such as

a

: to present (something or oneself) to the public in a way that is intended to attract customers : promote

… a social media marketplace where … members can advertise goods and services.

—Cathalena E. Burch

… Black Friday, a red-letter day when retailers advertise massive sales.

—Duncan Fine

Dealers are advertising prices about 3% to 5% below sticker price …

—Russ Mitchell

Construction on these houses is under way and some are already being advertised for sale.

—Ellie Brown

… some … brokers advertise themselves as offering no-commission trading.

—Charles Bovaird

All these systems work as advertised.

—Emme Hall

Of course, if you really want to host a successful yard sale, you'll need to advertise.

—Maurie Backman

b

transitive + intransitive : to announce (something wanted or offered) publicly

The position was advertised on various job sites.

The company is currently advertising for an accountant.

2

transitive

a

: to make (something) publicly and generally known

We tried not to advertise our presence.

I didn't want to advertise the fact that I could shell out for a luxury item …

—Kira Vermond

b

archaic : to make something known to (another person or persons) : notify sense 1

I have advertised him by secret means …

—William Shakespeare

… it seemed to Nathan as if the entire neighborhood were being advertised of the fact …

—Mary S. Watts

advertiser noun

plural advertisers

print advertisers

Station managers say many regular advertisers aren't able to buy ads now.

—Associated Press

Synonyms

• announce
• annunciate
• blare
• blaze
• blazon
• broadcast
• declare
• enunciate
• flash
• give out
• herald
• placard
• post
• proclaim
• promulgate
• publicize
• publish
• release
• sound
• trumpet

Examples of advertise in a Sentence

They are advertising the new edition of the book.

The vacation was advertised as a week in paradise.

It turned out to be exactly as advertised.

Business increased after we began to advertise on the radio.

If you want to attract customers, it pays to advertise.

The company is advertising for a secretary.

We advertised the job in the paper.

He stomped loudly to advertise his presence.

Recent Examples on the Web

In Los Angeles’ Lincoln Heights neighborhood, residents have long expressed concern about the former site of Welch’s Uniform Facility, which was once advertised as America’s largest industrial dry cleaners. —Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024

The shrine buildings are hidden in the dense forest but are well advertised by its huge torii gates, with one standing prominently in the lake and the other two over the main street of Moto-Hakone. —John Clifford, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2024

Watery Lotion really is as universally appealing as advertised. —Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 19 Apr. 2024

If the pace of developing and adopting military AI weapon and surveillance systems continues accelerating, the end result will be an expensive arsenal of flawed, unreliable and dangerous technologies that don’t work as advertised. —Roberto J. González, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024

Last year, Brook was testing a product advertised as being of superior quality. —John Diedrich, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | Ashley Okwuosa, The Examination | Amy Yurkanin, Al.com, Journal Sentinel, 18 Apr. 2024

Some of these products contain a type of fiber called prebiotics and are thus advertised as good for gut health. —Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 15 Apr. 2024

Some drug traffickers advertise on social media platforms often via 24-hour disappearing posts, along with code words and emojis to evade law enforcement and platform algorithms, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. —Samantha Murphy Kelly, CNN, 13 Apr. 2024

No Doubt, which had been advertised as part of Coachella’s bill — but without saying on which day the band would appear — will perform Saturday at 9:25 p.m. on the festival’s main stage. —Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English advertisen, avertysen "to pay attention to, take note of, notify, inform," borrowed from Anglo-French avertiss-, advertiss-, stem of avertir, advertir "to notify, (reflexive) recognize, be mindful of" — more at advert entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Kids Definition

advertise

verb

ad·​ver·​tise ˈad-vər-ˌtīz 

advertised; advertising

1

: to announce publicly especially by a printed notice or a broadcast

advertise a sale

2

: to call public attention to especially by pointing out desirable qualities so as to create a desire to buy or to do business with

advertise a cereal

advertise a store

3

: to give a public notice or advertisement

advertise for a lost dog

advertiser noun