avow

verb \ ə-ˈvau̇ \

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

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Examples: avow in a Sentence

Definition of avow

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

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avower

play \-ˈvau̇(-ə)r\ noun

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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 of avow from the Web

Those of us who have tied ourselves to President Trump and who have avowed to support his policies are winning.

— Fox News, "Rep. Cuellar on battle over separating families at border," 19 June 2018
Adherents to the politics of adulation have been in close combat with those who avow the politics of condemnation.

— robyn dixon, latimes.com, "South African liberation fighter Winnie Madikizela-Mandela laid to rest with songs, tears and cheers," 14 Apr. 2018
Despite his reputation for mathematical precision and formal rigor, the French master was avowing the primacy of sonic beauty.

— stuart isacoff, WSJ, "Composing Organized Delirium," 29 Sep. 2017
Merkel herself avows that the events of 2015 cannot be repeated.

— isaac stanley-becker, Washington Post, "The refugee crisis once threatened to sink Angela Merkel’s career. How did the German chancellor weather the storm?," 21 Sep. 2017
The group openly avows the idealism that drew them to Obama’s first presidential campaign, along with a commitment to rational discourse in the face of partisan incivility.

— ben austen, New Republic, "Ravi Gupta is recruiting a fresh slate on candidates to take down Trump. But can a former Obama staffer forge a new path for Democrats?," 7 Sep. 2017
The video premiered during a ceremony hosted by pop star and avowed Swift nemesis Katy Perry.

— los angeles times staff, latimes.com, "A Star Is Born: Shania Twain turns 52 today," 28 Aug. 2017
The French avow their standardization of the carte à jouer and its ancestor, the tarot.

— adrienne bernhard, The Atlantic, "The Lost Origins of Playing-Card Symbols," 24 Aug. 2017
The report is likely to renew questions about Mr. Flynn’s avowed eagerness to work with Russia, and his dismissal of concerns about President Vladimir V. Putin, which have at times exceeded even that of Mr. Trump himself.

— matthew rosenberg, mark mazzetti and adam goldman, New York Times, "Trump’s National Security Pick Sees Ally in Fight Against Islamists: Russia," 10 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'avow.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of avow

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

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First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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avow Synonyms

Phrases

put forth;

Synonym Discussion of 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.