First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
avow
verb \ə-ˈvau̇\
: to declare or state (something) in an open and public way
Full Definition of AVOW
transitive verb
1
: to declare assuredly <she avowed her innocence>
2
: to declare openly, bluntly, and without shame <ever ready to avow his reactionary outlook>
— avow·er \-ˈvau̇(-ə)r\ noun
See avow defined for English-language learners
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Origin of AVOW
Middle English, from Anglo-French avuer, avouer, from Latin advocare
Related to AVOW
Synonym Discussion of AVOW
acknowledge, admit, own, avow, confess mean to disclose against one's will or inclination. acknowledge implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed <acknowledged an earlier peccadillo>. admit implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications <admitted the project was over budget>. own implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself <must own I know little about computers>. avow implies boldly declaring, often in the face of hostility, what one might be expected to be silent about <avowed that he was a revolutionary>. confess may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt <confessed a weakness for sweets>.
assert, declare, affirm, protest, avow mean to state positively usually in anticipation of denial or objection. assert implies stating confidently without need for proof or regard for evidence <asserted that modern music is just noise>. declare stresses open or public statement <declared her support for the candidate>. affirm implies conviction based on evidence, experience, or faith <affirmed the existence of an afterlife>. protest emphasizes affirming in the face of denial or doubt <protested that he really had been misquoted>. avow stresses frank declaration and acknowledgment of personal responsibility for what is declared <avowed that all investors would be repaid in full>.
assert, declare, affirm, protest, avow mean to state positively usually in anticipation of denial or objection. assert implies stating confidently without need for proof or regard for evidence <asserted that modern music is just noise>. declare stresses open or public statement <declared her support for the candidate>. affirm implies conviction based on evidence, experience, or faith <affirmed the existence of an afterlife>. protest emphasizes affirming in the face of denial or doubt <protested that he really had been misquoted>. avow stresses frank declaration and acknowledgment of personal responsibility for what is declared <avowed that all investors would be repaid in full>.
Rhymes with AVOW
Aargau, allow, and how, ant cow, as how, Belau, Bissau, bowwow, Breslau, cacao, cahow, Callao, cash cow, chowchow, chow chow, Cracow, Dachau, Davao, Donau, endow, enow, erenow, eyebrow, gangplow, Hankow, hausfrau, haymow, highbrow, hoosegow, jiao, Jungfrau, know-how, kowtow, Kraków, landau, lowbrow, luau, Lucknow, Macao, mau-mau, meow, Moscow, nohow, Palau, powwow, sea cow, snowplow, somehow, Spandau, Zwickau
AVOW Defined for Kids
avow
verb \ə-ˈvau̇\
avowedavow·ing
Definition of AVOW for Kids
: to declare openly and frankly <I was surprised at the coolness with which John avowed his knowledge of the island … — Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island>
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