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

Research suggests that about 50% of products advertised to Black women contain these types of chemicals, compared with about 7% that are advertised to White women, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 11 Feb. 2025

According to Variety, the website had been advertising its typical selection of merchandise and athleisure wear on Sunday, but all of those items were removed and replaced with the swastika shirt shortly after the ad aired. —Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2025

Verizon hooked us up with tickets to Shaq’s part festival, part carnival, part circus—Shaq’s legendary party is exactly as advertised: FUN. —Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 10 Feb. 2025

How Pettersson has fit with the Canucks Pettersson has performed exactly as advertised through his first two games with the Canucks. —Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025

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