counsel
gb/kˈaʊnsəl/ us/kˈaʊnsəl/
B2
English
~ 4700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
B2
entity
1
Lawyer representing someone
A lawyer who gives advice and helps people in court.
Usage pattern:
[someone's] counsel
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'counsel' (a person or advice) with 'council' (a group of people who make decisions).
Synonyms
lawyer (More common in everyday English; 'counsel' is more formal, often used in legal contexts.)
|
attorney (Primarily American English term for a lawyer; similar meaning but different usage regionally.)
Antonyms
opponent (Refers to the opposing lawyer in a legal case.)
Collocations
legal counsel
|defense counsel
|counsel for the prosecution
|seek counsel
|retain counsel
Themes
law
|business
Examples
- The defendant spoke quietly with her counsel before answering.
- He hired new legal counsel to handle the case.
- Counsel for the defense argued that the evidence was insufficient.
Learner examples
- She talked to her counsel before the trial.
- His counsel told him to stay quiet.
- The company has good legal counsel.
Noun
formal
B2
entity
2
Serious advice or guidance
Serious advice given to help someone decide what to do.
Usage pattern:
to give [someone] counsel
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'counsel' in casual contexts where 'advice' would be more natural.
Synonyms
advice ('Advice' is more common in everyday speech; 'counsel' is more formal and serious.)
|
guidance (Similar meaning, but can be broader and less formal.)
Antonyms
misguidance (Advice that leads someone in the wrong direction.)
Collocations
wise counsel
|seek counsel
|offer counsel
|heed counsel
Themes
advice
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She sought her mentor's counsel before making the decision.
- He offered wise counsel during difficult times.
- Their elders gave them counsel on how to resolve the dispute.
Learner examples
- I asked my teacher for counsel.
- She gave me good counsel about my job.
- He listened to his friend's counsel.
Verb
formal
B2
action
3
To give formal advice
To give someone serious advice about what they should do.
Usage pattern:
to counsel [someone] on/about [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'counsel' (verb) with 'console', which means to comfort someone emotionally.
Synonyms
advise ('Advise' is more general and common; 'counsel' is more formal and often used for serious matters.)
|
recommend (Suggests giving a preferred course of action, but less formal than 'counsel'.)
Antonyms
dissuade (To advise against something; opposite of encouraging action through counsel.)
Collocations
counsel against
|counsel patience
|counsel caution
Themes
advice
|law
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The therapist counseled her to take a break from work.
- He counseled patience in dealing with the problem.
- They were counseled on how to manage their finances.
Learner examples
- My friend counseled me to study more.
- The teacher counseled the students about safety.
- She counseled him to be careful.
Grammar
Dictionary form
counsel
IPA
GB/kˈaʊnsəl/
US/kˈaʊnsəl/
Syllables & stress
coun - sel (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (coun)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: counsel
- Plural: counsel, counsels
Verb
- Base: counsel
- 3rd Person Singular: counsels
- Present Participle: counseling, counselling
- Past: counseled, counselled
Word family
Expressions
keep your own counsel
1/kˈip jˈʊɹ ˈoʊn kˈaʊnsəl/
idiom
Keep thoughts private
To not tell other people what you are thinking or planning.
Examples
- She kept her own counsel during the negotiations.
- He tends to keep his own counsel until he is ready to act.
seek counsel
1/sˈik kˈaʊnsəl/
fixed phrase
formal
Ask for professional advice
To ask a lawyer or other trusted person for advice.
Examples
- You should seek counsel before signing the contract.
- The company sought counsel on the new regulations.
take counsel with
1/tˈeɪk kˈaʊnsəl wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
formal
Discuss for advice
To talk with someone to get advice before deciding what to do.
Examples
- The board took counsel with several experts before making their choice.
- He took counsel with his advisors about the project.