advise

v.

1. To give advice

   recommend, counsel, prescribe, exhort, direct, admonish, warn, caution, suggest, guide, steer, instruct, advocate, urge, prompt, encourage, coax, persuade, induce, charge, enjoin, dissuade, teach, propose, tell, preach, give advice to, give counsel to, forewarn, entreat, hint, point out, opine, seek to persuade, wise up*, straighten out*, give the facts*, put one's two cents worth in*.

2. To give information

   notify, inform, apprise, make known; see notify 1.

advise means simply to recommend a course of action and implies that the giver of the advice has knowledge or experience; counsel implies serious deliberation of weighty matters; admonish suggests earnest, gently reproving advice concerning a fault, error, etc., given by someone fitted to do so by age or position; to caution or warn is to give advice that puts one on guard against possible danger, failure, etc.; warn is used especially when a serious danger is involved