avow

verb

ə-ˈvau̇ 

avowed; avowing; avows

transitive verb

1

: to declare assuredly

She avowed her innocence.

2

: to declare openly, bluntly, and without shame

ever ready to avow his reactionary outlook

avower

ə-ˈvau̇(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms

• insist
• allege
• claim
• assert
• declare
• contend
• affirm
• maintain

Choose the Right Synonym for avow

acknowledge, admit, own, avow, confess mean to disclose against one's will or inclination.

acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed.

acknowledged an earlier peccadillo

admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications.

admitted the project was over budget

own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself.

must own I know little about computers

avow implies boldly declaring, often in the face of hostility, what one might be expected to be silent about.

avowed that he was a revolutionary

confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt.

confessed a weakness for sweets

assert, declare, affirm, protest, avow mean to state positively usually in anticipation of denial or objection.

assert implies stating confidently without need for proof or regard for evidence.

asserted that modern music is just noise

declare stresses open or public statement.

declared her support for the candidate

affirm implies conviction based on evidence, experience, or faith.

affirmed the existence of an afterlife

protest emphasizes affirming in the face of denial or doubt.

protested that he really had been misquoted

avow stresses frank declaration and acknowledgment of personal responsibility for what is declared.

avowed that all investors would be repaid in full

Examples of avow in a Sentence

avowed that the colonization of Mars in our lifetime is not only possible but probable

avowed their undying love for each other

Recent Examples on the Web

In fact, the last time a candidate who was neither a Republican nor a Democrat won national electoral votes was 1968, and that was avowed segregationist George Wallace. —Philip Elliott, Time, 7 July 2025

Rather, Israel is fighting a war against a brutal enemy that seized hostages in a surprise massacre, cloaks itself among its civilian population, and avows the destruction of Israel as its inalterable goal. —The Editors, National Review, 11 June 2025

The first trailer for the film that will premiere on Hulu/Disney+ on June 27 features testimonials from avowed superfan Paramore singer Hayley Williams, as well as Tool’s Maynard James Keenan and late producer/engineer Steve Albini. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 3 June 2025

One of her harshest critics on the left was Angela Davis, a Black militant and avowed Communist. —Katharine Q. Seelye, New York Times, 26 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French avuer, avouer, from Latin advocare to summon

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for avow

• allow
• basedow
• chiao
• endow
• eyebrow
• highbrow
• lanao
• meow
• powwow
• somehow
• anyhow
• carabao

Kids Definition

avow

verb

ə-ˈvau̇ 

: to declare or acknowledge openly and frankly