advocate
Americanverb (used with object)
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advocates,
present (3rd person singular)
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advocated,
past participle, past
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advocating
present participle
verb (used without object)
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advocates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
advocated,
past participle, past
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advocating
present participle
noun
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advocates
plural
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a person who speaks or writes in support or defense of a person, cause, etc. (usually followed byof ).
an advocate of peace.
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a person who pleads for or in behalf of another; intercessor.
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a person who pleads the cause of another in a court of law.
verb
noun
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a person who upholds or defends a cause; supporter
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a person who intercedes on behalf of another
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a person who pleads his client's cause in a court of law See also barrister solicitor counsellor
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Scots law the usual word for barrister
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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advocatornoun
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nonadvocatenoun
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preadvocatenoun
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subadvocatenoun
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preadvocateverb (used with object)
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readvocateverb (used with object)
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advocativeadjective
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advocatoryadjective
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unadvocatedadjective
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well-advocatedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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advocatesimple
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advocatessimple
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have advocatedperfect
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has advocatedperfect
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am advocatingprogressive
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are advocatingprogressive
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is advocatingprogressive
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have been advocatingperfect progressive
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has been advocatingperfect progressive
Past
-
advocatedsimple
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had advocatedperfect
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was advocatingprogressive
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were advocatingprogressive
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had been advocatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of advocate
First recorded in 1300–50; from Latin advocātus “legal counselor,” originally past participle of advocāre “to call to one's aid,” equivalent to ad- ad- + vocāre “to call” (akin to vōx voice ); replacing Middle English avocat, from Middle French
Explanation
An advocate (AD-və-kit) is someone who supports a cause, like an advocate for outdoor recess. Advocate (AD-və-kate) is also a verb meaning to speak in favor of, so you can advocate for that outdoor recess by urging your school to play outside! As a noun, an advocate is a person who represents another person’s interests, like a lawyer does. In fact, the word comes from the courtroom — it’s from Latin advocare, to “add” a “voice.” To advocate is to add a voice of support to a cause or person. An advocate is anyone who adds that voice by representing another person in court, or by supporting or working toward a particular course of action.
Vocabulary lists containing advocate
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The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
"She's someone who is such a strong advocate and is widely respected right across the political spectrum because the way that she advocates is very respectful."
From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026
However, in that time she has become an influential advocate for integrity in politics.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
The musician has continued to advocate for environmental protection throughout his career, making the conservation efforts surrounding his own residence an extension of those interests.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026
Drivers often speed on Union Avenue, said Kelsey Huse, an advocate for road safety in Memphis.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
I wondered about the safety of Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, the fearless Civil Rights advocate and the pastor of Birmingham’s Bethel Baptist Church.
From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry
It makes us fondly recall a past when first ladies competently delivered coherent speeches from podiums and made strong policy advocates.
From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026
"She's someone who is such a strong advocate and is widely respected right across the political spectrum because the way that she advocates is very respectful."
From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026
It’s notable that the key academic advocates of Proposition 40, and wealth taxes in general, are French.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Yet, recent research, external from Brookings Institution, a non-partisan policy research group, found that a new data centre creates between 100 and 200 local jobs, which is "fewer than industry advocates claim".
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
A wide assortment of children's rights advocates, lawyers, and mental health experts were watching closely when we asked the Court to declare life-without-parole sentences imposed on children unconstitutional.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
The families of murdered primary school teacher Sabina Nessa, law graduate Zara Aleena and mother-of-three Jan Mustafa have previously advocated for changes to the laws.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
The blueprint advocated making the Center for AI Standards and Innovation, a unit of the government’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, the “primary institution” for U.S. regulatory oversight of AI.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
The first legislative elections since 2006, which the international community has strongly advocated for, had been scheduled for November 28, with a presidential election expected in early 2027.
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026
Bunnie said she had been willing to put the work in, noting that she had advocated for them to attend couple’s therapy.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026
There was, however, a different interpretation of Israel’s result, which was advocated by Roger Penrose and John Wheeler in particular.
From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking
At first glance, the action is in line with what women have long been advocating for.
From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026
By advocating for voting early, the "No Kings" organizers hope to cut off the potential for any malfeasance once election day rolls around.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026
Both women had spent years advocating for Palestinian rights while maintaining relationships with Jewish organizations.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
Edwar has been advocating for women's causes for over 50 years and her assessment is gloomy: "Twenty-three years after Saddam Hussein's regime was brought down, it seems we are going backwards regarding women's rights."
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
Carville resident Stanley Stein, who has spent years raising awareness and advocating on behalf of those with leprosy, is thrilled with the publicity, and Joey is a powerful spokeswoman.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
