Avow: meaning, definitions and examples

🗣️

Add to dictionary

avow

[əˈvaʊ ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

formal

To assert or confess openly. To acknowledge or admit the truth of something.

Synonyms

acknowledge, declare, profess.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
avow	Used when someone publicly claims or asserts something with strong conviction, often involving a declaration of belief or affection. He avowed his love for her in front of everyone. She avowed her commitment to the cause during the meeting.
declare	Used for formal or official announcements, often made publicly and with authority. The president declared a state of emergency due to the hurricane. She declared her candidacy for the upcoming election.
profess	Used when someone claims or asserts something, often in a context where there might be doubt about the sincerity or truth of the statement. He professed his innocence despite the overwhelming evidence. She professed to be an expert, but her knowledge was limited.
acknowledge	Used to admit or accept something as true or existing, often reluctantly or after some prompting. He finally acknowledged his mistake after days of denial. We need to acknowledge the contributions of our team members.

Examples of usage

He avowed his support for the new policy.
She avowed her love for him in front of everyone.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

literary

To affirm or assert strongly.

Synonyms

affirm, assert, state.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
avow	Often used to openly declare or confess something, usually in a formal or solemn way. This word can have a strong, almost ceremonial connotation. He avowed his loyalty to the king in front of the entire court. She avowed her intentions to pursue a career in social work.
assert	Used to confidently state something as a fact, often in the face of opposition or doubt. It can sometimes carry a connotation of being forceful or insistent. He asserted that the project would be completed on time, despite multiple setbacks. She asserted her rights during the negotiations.
affirm	Typically used to confirm something as true or to express a strong belief in something. It's often used in legal, formal, or official settings. The witness affirmed that he saw the suspect at the scene of the crime. She affirmed her commitment to the company's values.
state	Used to express something clearly and definitely. It's a straightforward way of conveying information or opinions without any additional connotations of formality or intensity. He stated his concerns during the meeting. She stated her opinion on the new policy.

Examples of usage

She avowed that she would never give up on her dreams.
He avowed his determination to succeed.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

archaic

An open statement or acknowledgment.

Synonyms

acknowledgment, confession, declaration.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
avow	Avow is used when someone openly states or confirms something, especially a belief, opinion, or feeling. It often carries a formal or sincere tone. She avowed her love for the city she grew up in He avowed that he would never return to such behavior
declaration	Declaration is used for making a formal or official statement about something. It can be used in both formal and informal settings, but it has an authoritative tone. The president made a declaration of emergency Her declaration of intent to run for office was well-received
acknowledgment	Acknowledgment is used to show recognition or acceptance of a fact, truth, or reality. It's commonly used in formal contexts like admitting receipt of something or recognizing someone's contribution. The company sent an acknowledgment of the complaint He received an acknowledgment of his hard work during the meeting
confession	Confession is used when someone admits to something, often something wrong, secret, or embarrassing. It usually carries a sense of guilt or difficulty in admitting it. In his confession, he admitted to the crime She made a heartfelt confession about her past mistakes

Examples of usage

His avow of loyalty to the king was well-known throughout the land.

Translations

Translations of the word "avow" in other languages:

🇵🇹 declarar

afirmar
confessar

🇮🇳 स्वीकार करना (svīkār karnā)

🇩🇪 bekennen

erklären
gestehen

🇮🇩 mengakui

menyatakan
mengikrarkan

🇺🇦 визнавати

стверджувати
зізнаватися

🇵🇱 przyznawać

twierdzić
wyznawać

🇯🇵 認める (mitomeru)

宣言する (sengen suru)
告白する (kokuhaku suru)

🇫🇷 avouer

déclarer
reconnaître

🇪🇸 declarar

reconocer
afirmar

🇹🇷 itiraf etmek

beyan etmek
kabul etmek

🇰🇷 인정하다 (injeonghada)

선언하다 (seon-eonhada)
고백하다 (gobaekhada)

🇸🇦 أقر (aqarr)

أعلن (aʿlan)
اعترف (iʿtaraf)

🇨🇿 přiznat

prohlásit
vyznat

🇸🇰 priznať

vyhlásiť
uznať

🇨🇳 承认 (chéngrèn)

宣布 (xuānbù)
坦白 (tǎnbái)

🇸🇮 priznati

izjaviti
izpovedati

🇮🇸 viðurkenna

lýsa yfir
játa

🇰🇿 мойындау

мәлімдеу
мойындау (қайта қайталау)

🇬🇪 აღიარება (aghiareba)

განცხადება (gancxadeba)
აღიარება (aghiareba)

🇦🇿 etiraf etmək

bəyan etmək
qəbul etmək

🇲🇽 declarar

reconocer
afirmar

Etymology

The word 'avow' dates back to the late 14th century and originates from the Old French word 'avouer', meaning to acknowledge or accept. It has roots in the Latin word 'advocare', which means to call to one's aid or to summon. Over the centuries, 'avow' has been used in various contexts to express open acknowledgment, confession, or strong affirmation.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #22,525, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

...
22522 grotto
22523 unearthly
22524 photometer
22525 avow
22526 engrossing
22527 bier
22528 snapshots
...