pronounce

American  

[pruh-nouns] / prəˈnaʊns /

verb (used with object)

pronounced, pronouncing

1. to enunciate or articulate (sounds, words, sentences, etc.).

2. to utter or sound in a particular manner in speaking.

   He pronounces his words indistinctly.

3. to utter or articulate in the accepted or correct manner.

   I can't pronounce this word.

4. to declare (a person or thing) to be as specified.

   She pronounced it the best salmon she had ever tasted.

5. to utter or deliver formally or solemnly.

   to pronounce sentence.

6. to announce authoritatively or officially.

   The judge pronounced the defendant guilty.

7. to indicate the pronunciation of (words) by providing a phonetic transcription.

   This dictionary pronounces most of the words entered.

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verb (used without object)

pronounced, pronouncing

1. to pronounce words, phrases, etc.

2. to make a statement or assertion, especially an authoritative statement (often followed byon ).

   He was required to pronounce on the findings of his research.

3. to give an opinion or decision (usually followed byon ).

   to pronounce on an important matter.

4. to indicate the pronunciation of words.

   a spelling book that pronounces.

pronounce British  

/ prəˈnaʊns /

verb

1. to utter or articulate (a sound or sequence of sounds)

2. (tr) to utter or articulate (sounds or words) in the correct way

3. (tr; may take a clause as object) to proclaim officially and solemnly

   I now pronounce you man and wife

4. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to declare as one's judgment

   to pronounce the death sentence upon someone

5. (tr) to make a phonetic transcription of (sounds or words)

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Other Word Forms

• prepronounce verb (used with object)
• pronounceable adjective
• pronounceableness noun
• pronouncer noun
• unpronounceable adjective
• unpronouncing adjective

Etymology

Origin of pronounce

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English pronouncen, from Middle French prononcier, from Latin prōnūntiāre “to proclaim, announce, recite, utter”; pro- ¹, announce

Example Sentences

The unidentified man was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

From Los Angeles Times

While public dissatisfaction is evident among many groups surveyed, the decline in support for the president has been most pronounced among Latino voters.

From Los Angeles Times

Overseas, the threat of higher interest rates is more pronounced.

From The Wall Street Journal

But my dad said to me, ‘If they can learn to pronounce Zbigniew Brzezinski, they can learn to pronounce your name.’

From The Wall Street Journal

One of the more unexpected findings involved female offspring, which showed more pronounced physical differences.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• assert
• deliver
• proclaim