What does advertise mean?
To advertise is to make something publicly known with the aim of attracting attention, interest, or custom. In its most familiar commercial sense, it means promoting a product, service, or brand through paid announcements in newspapers, on television and radio, online, or on billboards. The word extends beyond commerce: organizations advertise job vacancies, schools advertise open days, and individuals may be said to advertise their skills — or, less flatteringly, to advertise their faults without meaning to. The verb comes from the Latin advertere, "to turn toward," reflecting the fundamental goal of turning people's attention toward whatever is being promoted. It is a neutral, standard term in both British and American English, carrying no strong connotation of praise or blame in itself, though the practice of advertising is sometimes viewed critically. Related forms include the nouns advertisement and advertiser and the collective field of advertising.
verbTo make a product, service, event, or job publicly known, typically through paid announcements in media; more broadly, to draw public attention to something.
- To promote a product, service, or brand publicly, usually through paid media.
- To announce that something (such as a job vacancy, sale, or event) is available.
- To make one's abilities or qualities known, often unintentionally (e.g. 'advertise one's ignorance').
"The company advertised the new phone heavily before its launch."
"The firm advertised the position in several national newspapers."
"He was hardly advertising his talents by keeping quiet about the award."
The word "advertise" literally means "to turn toward" — from Latin advertere — so every ad you see is, at root, an attempt to turn your attention its way.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of advertise
Advertise derives from the Latin verb advertere, meaning "to turn toward" or "to direct attention to," formed from ad- ("toward") plus vertere ("to turn"). The word entered English via French in the 15th century, initially meaning simply to take notice of or heed something. By the 18th century it had developed its modern commercial sense of making goods or services publicly known. Cognates sharing the same Latin root include advertent and inadvertent, which preserve the older sense of mental attention.
Related word forms
How advertise is actually used
Standard verb in both British and American English; British usage also has the informal noun form "advert" for advertisement. The verb takes regular inflection (advertises, advertised, advertising).
Easily confused with advertise
"Advertise" is the verb meaning to promote something publicly, while "advertisement" is the noun referring to the announcement or notice itself.