Definition and pronunciation
espouse — verb: to adopt and support a cause, belief, or policy; older/formal: to marry.
Pronunciation: /ɪˈspaʊz/.
Easy explanation
To espouse something is to say “I’m for this” and actively support it. In older or ceremonial language, it can also mean “to marry.”
Part of speech and grammar
- Transitive verb: espouse a cause/policy/idea.
- Forms: espouses, espoused, espousing.
- Noun: espousal (support; also an old word for a wedding), espousals (archaic plural “wedding rites”).
- Tip: In modern English, you espouse something (an idea), not espouse to something. The “marry” sense appears in phrases like be espoused to (dated).
Register and tone
Formal to journalistic when about ideas (“espouse reform”). The “marry” sense is archaic/ceremonial.
Connection to sexuality
Only indirectly. Espouse can involve marriage in older usage, but it doesn’t name sexual behavior. In public health or education, writers may say someone “espouses abstinence/consent-based education,” which refers to a stance, not an act.
Common collocations
espouse a cause; espouse reform; espouse an ideology; espouse principles/values; espouse nonviolence; espouse feminism; espouse open science; espouse a policy/position; widely espoused view; publicly espouse
Idioms and set phrases
- espouse the cause of [group/goal]
- espouse a view
- be espoused to (dated “be married to”)
Prepositions and nuance
- espouse + noun (no preposition): espouse transparency.
- espouse as (rare, evaluative framing): espoused as essential reform.
- espoused by (passive agent): a view espoused by educators.
- espoused to (dated/ceremonial): married or betrothed to.
Prepositions mainly mark grammar (agent, status). The core meaning—active support—stays the same.
Word comparisons
- espouse vs support/endorse — espouse implies personal adoption and advocacy; support can be lighter; endorse suggests public approval (often one-off).
- espouse vs champion — champion adds vigorous, ongoing defense.
- espouse vs adopt/embrace — near-synonyms; embrace is warmer; adopt is institutional.
- espouse vs marry — marry is the common modern verb for weddings; espouse = support, with “marry” as a dated secondary sense.
Real-life examples
- The senator espoused campaign-finance reform in every speech.
- Several journals espouse open-access principles.
- The school espouses a consent-centered approach to health education.
- In a period novel, a character is espoused to a suitor by family arrangement.
Sample sentences
- She espouses data transparency and publishes all code.
- The party espoused a policy of nonviolence.
- Critics say he espouses reform but resists concrete steps.
- In the archives, a letter notes that Maria was espoused to Antonio (dated usage).
- Community leaders espoused collaboration over competition.
Synonyms
adopt, embrace, support, champion, advocate, uphold, back, endorse, promote, take up, side with, align with
Antonyms
oppose, reject, resist, repudiate, renounce, disclaim, disavow, abandon
Related terms
espousal, espoused, spouse (distinct modern noun), endorse, advocate, champion, ideology, platform, policy, commitment, marry (contrast), wed (contrast)
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