espouse
/is'pauz/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Verb:
- To adopt or support a cause, belief, or way of life: To choose to follow or advocate for a particular idea, theory, policy, or practice, making it one's own.
- To marry: To take someone as a spouse; to wed.
Usage
- The verb "espouse" is used in formal or academic contexts. It describes a deliberate, often public, act of commitment to an idea or a person.
- When referring to beliefs or causes, it implies active support and advocacy.
- When referring to marriage, it is an archaic or very formal term.
Examples
- Adopting a cause or belief:
- The politician was known to espouse environmental protection long before it became popular.
- She espouses the philosophy that education is the most powerful tool for change.
- Marrying (archaic/formal):
- In the old tale, the knight promised to espouse the princess upon his return.
Advanced Usage
- "to espouse a principle": to commit to and champion a specific rule or standard.
- The company's code of conduct espouses the principle of transparency.
- "to espouse a view": to hold and express a particular opinion.
- He is not afraid to espouse controversial views in his writings.
Variants and Related Words
- Espousal (n): The act of adopting or supporting a cause or belief, or the act of marrying.
- His public espousal of the reform agenda gained him many supporters.
- The novel describes the espousal of the two main characters.
Synonyms
- Adopt: To take up and practice or use.
- Embrace: To accept or support willingly and enthusiastically.
- Champion: To support or defend a cause.
- Advocate: To publicly recommend or support.
- Wed (for the marriage sense): To marry.
Antonyms
- Reject: To refuse to accept or consider.
- Oppose: To be against; to resist.
- Renounce: To formally declare one's abandonment of a claim, right, or belief.
Related Phrases
- "to espouse a cause": This is the most common collocation, meaning to become a supporter of a particular social or political aim.
- Many young people espouse the cause of social justice.
Verb
- take up the cause, ideology, practice, method, of someone and use it as one's own
- She embraced Catholicism
- They adopted the Jewish faith
- take in marriage
- choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans
- She followed the feminist movement
- The candidate espouses Republican ideals