proclaim

[ proh-kleym, pruh- ]

verb (used with object)

1. to announce or declare in an official or formal manner:

   to proclaim war.

   Synonyms: advertise

2. to announce or declare in an open or ostentatious way:

   to proclaim one's opinions.

   Synonyms: promulgate

3. to indicate or make known publicly or openly.
4. to extol or praise publicly:

   Let them proclaim the Lord.

5. to declare (a territory, district, etc.) subject to particular legal restrictions.
6. to declare to be an outlaw, evildoer, or the like.
7. to denounce or prohibit publicly.

verb (used without object)

1. to make a proclamation.

proclaim

/ ˌprɒkləˈmeɪʃən; prəˈklæmətərɪ; -trɪ; prəˈkleɪm /

verb

1. may take a clause as object to announce publicly
2. may take a clause as object to show or indicate plainly
3. to praise or extol

Derived Forms

• proclamatory, adjective
• proclamation, noun
• proˈclaimer, noun

Other Words From

• pro·claimer noun
• repro·claim verb (used with object)
• self-pro·claimed adjective
• self-pro·claiming adjective
• unpro·claimed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of proclaim¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of proclaim¹

C14: from Latin prōclāmāre to shout aloud

Synonym Study

See announce.

Example Sentences

This book is a stunning look at how societal systems connect history to the present, for better or worse, and how warped the message around the truth can become when those in power can’t tell their story or proclaim their injustices en masse.

From Fortune

Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Supervisor Greg Cox and others convened business leaders and proclaimed that San Diego was ready to reopen.

From Voice of San Diego

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg tried to explain on Friday why his company waited a day to remove the account of a self-proclaimed militia group that called for violence against protesters in Kenosha, Wis.

From Fortune

Emmanuel Macron of France solemnly proclaimed that “we are at war.”

From Fortune

World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab proclaimed that business now had to “fully embrace stakeholder capitalism,” and the theme of the 2020 Davos conference became “Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World.”

From Fortune

The loftiest noses among the winemakers inhale the finest of scents from the tasting glass and proclaim another masterpiece.

From The Daily Beast

Headlines big and small proclaim the bracing news: democratization, as a global project, is over.

From The Daily Beast

Top it with sweet and savory goop, and proclaim a new era in the world of pizza.

From The Daily Beast

We stop at a souvenir stand to buy buttons that proclaim I RODE IT!

From The Daily Beast

How can we proclaim Christ to a generation that is changing?

From The Daily Beast

Stung to the soul, Louis threw himself at her feet, to proclaim his innocence of all these inferences, before heaven and her.

From Project Gutenberg

He paused; and hastily wrote a few lines, to say that parent still lived, and would yet proclaim himself with honour to the world.

From Project Gutenberg

Mademoiselle affected for her gaoler a most unconquerable aversion, and this she took pains to proclaim.

From Project Gutenberg

Certain houses, like certain persons, manage somehow to proclaim at once their character for evil.

From Project Gutenberg

To go back on it, and at the eleventh hour, would proclaim him weak and vacillating, and the effect might be as Strachan said.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• affirm
• announce
• declare
• demonstrate
• indicate
• profess
• publish
• trumpet