- to adopt or give support to (a cause, ideal, etc): to espouse socialism
- archaic (esp of a man) to take as spouse; marry
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
es•pouse /ɪˈspaʊz, ɪˈspaʊs/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -poused, -pous•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to support, as a cause;
call for;
promote;
adopt:espoused a philosophy of understanding.
es•pouse
(i spouz′, i spous′),USA pronunciation v.t., -poused, -pous•ing.
es•pous′er, n.
- to make one's own;
adopt or embrace, as a cause. - to marry.
- to give (a woman) in marriage.
- Latin spōnsāre to betroth, espouse
- Middle French espouser
- late Middle English 1425–75
- 1. support, champion, advocate.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
espouse /ɪˈspaʊz/ vb (transitive)
'espouse' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):