1
Core action
Publicly support, recommend, or argue in favour of a cause, policy, or course of action.
Example
The report advocates stricter protection for wetlands.
advocate
/ˈædvəkeɪt/ · AD-vuh-kaytverb
Publicly support, recommend, or argue in favour of a cause, policy, or course of action.
Use advocate to express this relationship precisely: publicly support, recommend, or argue in favour of a cause, policy, or course of action.
What advocate Really Means
The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.
2
Common construction
Use this expression in its normal grammatical frame so the relationship between the surrounding ideas remains explicit.
Example
She advocates expanding access to public libraries.
3
Reasoning effect
It tells the reader how to interpret the timing, scope, evidence, contrast, condition, or consequence in the statement.
Example
Researchers advocated caution rather than abandoning the method.
Use advocate Naturally
Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.
The report advocates stricter protection for wetlands.
She advocates expanding access to public libraries.
Researchers advocated caution rather than abandoning the method.
Precision Matters
Advocate overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.
advocate
vs.Means publicly support, recommend, or argue in favour of a cause, policy, or course of action.
allege
Means claim or declare that something is true, typically without yet providing proof.
advocate
vs.Means publicly support, recommend, or argue in favour of a cause, policy, or course of action.
condemn
Means express strong disapproval of something as wrong, harmful, or unacceptable; sometimes formally sentence someone to punishment.
advocate
vs.Means publicly support, recommend, or argue in favour of a cause, policy, or course of action.
allude
Means refer to someone or something indirectly rather than naming or explaining it explicitly.
advocate
vs.Means publicly support, recommend, or argue in favour of a cause, policy, or course of action.
promote
Means encourage, support, or contribute to the development, progress, growth, or acceptance of something.
Test advocate in Context
They publicly argue in favour of the proposed expansion.
1
Citing lower costs and cleaner air, the council members ___ expanding the city's rail network.