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)
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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
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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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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:
Laiken Jordahl, national public lands advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, called the ruling by the Supreme Court a "horrific decision."
From Barron's ● Nov. 9, 2026
When employers actively engage with and advocate for CTE, they help create a more effective, sustainable system that meaningfully responds to the modern labor market’s needs.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 9, 2026
“It’s OK to advocate for yourself, to put us on the spot,’” said Janke.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
Health literacy – people's ability to navigate services and advocate for themselves – can also affect access to support, she says.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
The reporter, Jake Phelps, was, in fact, a longtime advocate of civil rights, though he tried to hide his sympathies from the paper.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
Jo volunteers with Menopause and Cancer, a non-profit which advocates for accessible services for patients navigating the menopause after cancer.
From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2026
Now, she and other immigration advocates are preparing themselves for “even more abuse from this administration,” Salas said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2026
Before 2016 pandas were considered endangered but are now listed as "vulnerable" by wildlife advocates, and an estimated 1,800 pandas live in the wild.
From Barron's ● Nov. 7, 2026
But so far, data-center advocates have won just a single measure, the firm said.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 5, 2026
Taking our cue from the courageous civil rights advocates who brazenly refused to defend themselves, marching unarmed past white mobs that threatened to kill them, we, too, must be the change we hope to create.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
That could be a blow for Nvidia and its CEO, who has advocated for less stringent restrictions on sales of graphics processing units to Chinese customers.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 9, 2026
On Friday, in the first speech of his tour, delivered in a half-empty square in Montevideo, he advocated for universal healthcare.
From Barron's ● Nov. 7, 2026
The fire department has long advocated for its own training center, Bitchakdjian said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026
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 fiscal goals Hamilton proposed were synonymous with the national vision Madison had advocated at the Constitutional Convention and in The Federalist Papers.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson is advocating a gradual approach to rate increases as the central bank works to control inflation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2026
In the planning meeting, they were advocating a new approach.
From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026
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
Now I work with a group in Wilmington that’s advocating for legislation reform for immigrants.
From "The Book of Unknown Americans" by Cristina Henríquez
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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.
