advert

EN
noun
verb

🇺🇸

/ˈæd.vɚ/

🇺🇸

/ˈæd.vɚ/

🇬🇧

/ˈæd.vɚ.t̬ɪ/

🇬🇧

/ˈæd.vɚ.t̬ɪ/

Word Forms

Plural

adverts

Past Tense

adverted

Past Participle

adverted

Gerund

adverting

3rd Person

adverts

Description

Advert is a British English abbreviation of 'advertisement' — a short message designed to promote a product, service, or idea, often seen in newspapers, websites, or on TV. In formal or literary contexts, it can also function as a verb meaning 'to refer or direct attention to something', though this usage is now rare and mostly found in legal or academic writing.

Examples

She placed a small advert for her vintage bicycle in the local newspaper.

The company ran a series of colourful adverts during the football championship.

He adverted to the earlier clause in his legal argument, drawing the judge's attention to its relevance.

Online adverts are often targeted based on users' browsing history.

The charity published a heartfelt advert appealing for donations after the flood.

Root

vertere

Comes from the Latin verb 'vertere', meaning 'to turn' (in various senses: to turn toward, to direct attention, to change direction). It conveys the core idea of turning one's focus, attention, or intention toward something. Examples include advert, convert, divert, revert, avert, subvert, and introvert.