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 of avow

• 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

Since the end of skinny jeans' reign as the dominant denim shape in the early 2020s, loyalists have decried wide legs and flares, avowing to stick to their preferred silhouette regardless of the shifting trends. —Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026

Suarez displayed side-by-side social media posts by Pacheco and one of the influencers who was at Vendôme, avowed antisemite Nick Fuentes. —Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026

McG has gotten down into the dirt to do some of the planting himself, the studio manager avows. —Chris Willman, Variety, 5 Jan. 2026

Last month, avowed socialist Zohran Mamdani was elected to be the next mayor of New York City. —Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 6 Dec. 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