advise

verb

ad·​vise əd-ˈvīz 

advised; advising

transitive verb

1

a

: to give (someone) a recommendation about what should be done : to give advice to

Her doctor advised her to try a drier climate.

b

: caution, warn

advise them of the consequences

c

: recommend

advise prudence

2

: to give information or notice to : inform

advise them of their rights

intransitive verb

1

: to give a recommendation about what should be done

advise on legal matters

2

: to talk with someone in order to decide what should be done : consult

advise with friends

Did you know?

Advise was borrowed into Middle English in the 14th century as avise (spelling variants with the d found in the Modern English began showing up in the 15th century). The word is derived from the Anglo-French aviser, itself from avis, meaning "opinion." That avis is not to be confused with the Latin word avis, meaning "bird" (an ancestor of such English words as avian and aviation). Instead, it results from the Old French phrase ce m'est a vis ("that appears to me"), a partial translation of Latin mihi visum est, "it seemed so to me" or "I decided." We advise you to remember that the verb advise is spelled with an s, whereas the related noun advice includes a stealthy c.

Synonyms

• adjure
• admonish
• counsel

Examples of advise in a Sentence

… the White House let it be known that the President had privately rebuked his Defense Secretary for not advising him of the extent of the problem. —John F. Dickerson et al., Time, 17 May 2004

Bureau of Land Management officials are recruiting a variety of Wyoming residents to serve on a working group that will advise the agency on possible changes to the level and pace of oil and gas development … —Jeff Gearino, Casper Star Tribune, 3 Mar. 2003

When I told my lawyer that my boyfriend was going to remodel my house, she advised me to get a strict estimate and regular billings … —Jane Smiley, Harper's, June 2000

Los Angeles Center advised me of a Boeing 747 at my one o'clock position and 500 feet below. —Barbara Cushman Rowell, Plane & Pilot, 1994

An internist … advised me of an experimental drug. —Robert E. Neger, American Medical News, 2 Sept. 1991

I strongly advise you to sell your old car.

We advised them to save their money.

My doctor advised me to lose some weight.

She advises the President on foreign affairs.

We were thinking of buying that house, but our lawyer advised against it.

I advise selling your old car.

He advises patience when dealing with children.

The boss asked us to keep him advised about how the project is going.

Recent Examples on the Web

Minasian had been one of the strongest voices to champion Burnes when the right-hander showed promise in the minor leagues, advising then-Brewers GM Doug Melvin to make the former fourth-round pick practically untouchable in trade discussions. —Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic, 8 Dec. 2024

The Iranian officials said that two top generals of Iran’s Quds forces, deployed to advise the Syrian army, had fled to Iraq as various rebel groups took over Homs and Deir al-Zour on Friday. —Farnaz Fassihi, New York Times, 7 Dec. 2024

From growing up with football legends to advising his son, here's everything to know about Arch Manning's dad, Cooper Manning. —Nasha Smith, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024

Through the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, her team provides owners with business advising programs, workshops and advocates for businesses at the city and state level. —Lyanne Alfaro, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English avisen, advisen "to look at, examine, find out, take thought, consider, decide, instruct, counsel," borrowed from Anglo-French aviser, adviser "to look at, examine, consider, give advice to, inform," partly from a- (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + viser "to see, catch sight of" (going back to Vulgar Latin *vīsāre, alteration, by conjugational change, of Latin vīsere "to go and look, look," frequentative of vidēre "to see"), partly verbal derivative of avis "thought, judgment" — more at advice

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing advise

• advise one against

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Kids Definition

advise

verb

ad·​vise əd-ˈvīz 

advised; advising

1

a

: to give advice to

b

: recommend sense 3

advised caution

2

: to give information or notice to

were advised of the news

3

: to talk over a problem or decision

advised with her parents

adviser noun

or advisor

-ˈvī-zər 

Legal Definition

advise

verb

ad·​vise əd-ˈvīz 

advised; advising

transitive verb

1

: to give advice to : counsel

advise them to draw up a will

2

: to give information or notice to

advise them of their rights

intransitive verb

1

: to give advice

advise on legal matters

2

: to take counsel

advise with your lawyer

adviser noun

also advisor

əd-ˈvī-zər