Synonyms

proclaim

American

[proh-kleym, pruh-] / proʊˈkleɪm, prə- /

verb (used with object)

to announce or declare in an official or formal manner.

to proclaim war.

Synonyms:

advertise
to announce or declare in an open or ostentatious way.

to proclaim one's opinions.

Synonyms:

promulgate
to indicate or make known publicly or openly.
to extol or praise publicly.

Let them proclaim the Lord.
to declare (a territory, district, etc.) subject to particular legal restrictions.
to declare to be an outlaw, evildoer, or the like.
to denounce or prohibit publicly.

verb (used without object)

to make a proclamation.

proclaim British

/ prəˈklæmətərɪ, -trɪ, ˌprɒkləˈmeɪʃən, prəˈkleɪm /

verb

(may take a clause as object) to announce publicly
(may take a clause as object) to show or indicate plainly
to praise or extol

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Synonym Usage

See announce.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of proclaim

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin prōclāmāre “to cry out”; equivalent to pro- ¹ + claim

Explanation

"I proclaim the Olympic Games open." Every two years with words similar to these, the Olympic games officially begin. To proclaim is to exclaim or declare. When you proclaim something, you are saying it loud and clear and in public. A doctor can proclaim you healthy after you have recovered from a long illness. The panel of judges may have trouble proclaiming the winner in a very tight race. What you are saying out loud can be called a proclamation. Proclamations were once only made by Kings or other ruling leaders which is why the word proclaim has an official feeling to it.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And he coached basketball, so he would proclaim this with a ball slung under his arm, wearing a jersey that featured his exuberantly hairy shoulders.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026

There is no need for a long talk to proclaim the main purpose of your institution.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Letter Cresset External link April 16: Recent troubling private-credit headlines prompted market Cassandras to proclaim an incipient credit crisis.

From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026

You can see it too: the green spikes of a giant sculpture, murals painted fondly on low walls and road signs that proclaim: "Welcome to the home of Musang King durians."

From BBC • Jan. 10, 2026

“Shall I proclaim it aloud in a grand voice and wave my arms too much, like one of Leeds’ Thespians on Demand?”

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023