utter

¹

[ uht-er ]

verb (used with object)

1. to give audible expression to; speak or pronounce:

   unable to utter her feelings;

   Words were uttered in my hearing.

   Synonyms: voice, verbalize, state, speak, say, pronounce, enunciate, articulate

2. to give forth (cries, notes, etc.) with the voice:

   to utter a sigh.

   Synonyms: breathe, give, emit

3. Phonetics. to produce (speech sounds, speechlike sounds, syllables, words, etc.) audibly, with or without reference to formal language.
4. to express (oneself or itself), especially in words.
5. to give forth (a sound) otherwise than with the voice:

   The engine uttered a shriek.

6. to express by written or printed words.
7. to make publicly known; publish:

   to utter a libel.

8. to put into circulation, as coins, notes, and especially counterfeit money or forged checks.
9. British Dialect. to expel; discharge or emit.
10. Obsolete. to publish, as a book.
11. Obsolete. to sell.

verb (used without object)

1. to employ the faculty of speech; use the voice to talk, make sounds, etc.:

   His piety prevented him from uttering on religion.

2. to sustain utterance; undergo speaking:

   Those ideas are so dishonest they will not utter.

utter

²

[ uht-er ]

adjective

1. complete; total; absolute:

   her utter abandonment to grief;

   utter strangers.

2. unconditional; unqualified:

   an utter denial.

utter

¹

/ ˈʌtə /

verb

1. to give audible expression to (something)

   to utter a growl

2. criminal law to put into circulation (counterfeit coin, forged banknotes, etc)
3. tr to make publicly known; publish

   to utter slander

4. obsolete.
   to give forth, issue, or emit

utter

²

/ ˈʌtə /

adjective

1. prenominal (intensifier)

   an utter fool

   the utter limit

   utter bliss

Derived Forms

• ˈutterableness, noun
• ˈutterer, noun
• ˈutterable, adjective
• ˈutterless, adjective

Other Words From

• utter·a·ble adjective
• utter·er noun
• utter·less adjective
• un·uttered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of utter¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English outren, uttren; cognate with German äussern “to declare”; out, -er ⁶

Origin of utter²

First recorded before 900; Middle English outre, utter(e), Old English uttra, ūtera “outer”; out, -er ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of utter¹

C14: probably originally a commercial term, from Middle Dutch ūteren (modern Dutch uiteren ) to make known; related to Middle Low German ūtern to sell, show

Origin of utter²

C15: from Old English utera outer, comparative of ūte out (adv); related to Old High German ūzaro, Old Norse ūtri

Synonym Study

See absolute.

Example Sentences

There’s also a huge range of gulf-front vacation rentals from which you can sip your morning coffee in utter solitude.

From Outside Online

All five officers had sworn the suspect never uttered a word.

From Time

Oceanside, for now, is not uttering the phrase “managed retreat,” during which, in preparation for continued rising sea levels, officials mandate moving the coastal line inland by buying out property owners and relocating structures.

From Voice of San Diego

She also says he told her that if she uttered a word about that evening, he would make sure she never got hired in media again.

From Time

The cartoonist found a scan of the original 2006 “Boy’s Club” comic art in which Pepe utters his catchphrase, “Feels good man” — the panels that launched countless memes across online forums and platforms.

From Washington Post

Urban economists, particularly those on the self-satisfied coasts, tend to envision utter hopelessness for the region.

From The Daily Beast

That was nothing compared to the utter destruction going on across town.

From The Daily Beast

The utter lack of beds provides a vivid commentary on the extreme nature of Communism.

From The Daily Beast

He was in so much pain he could hardly utter two words at a time.

From The Daily Beast

The complete and utter lack of compassion or a clue exhibited by these people is shameful in the extreme.

From The Daily Beast

He replied that he had no objections, provided she did not encumber the carriage with bandboxes, which were his utter abhorrence.

From Project Gutenberg

From mere regrets he was passing now, through dismay, into utter repentance of his promise.

From Project Gutenberg

Allcraft winced, as every syllable made known the speaker's actual strength—his own dependence and utter weakness.

From Project Gutenberg

When trusted with anything like the command of a mixed body of troops he proved an utter failure.

From Project Gutenberg

Not one word did Mrs. Dodd utter for many days to her husband of her momentous conversation with the squire.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• announce
• articulate
• assert
• asseverate
• declaim
• declare
• deliver
• enunciate
• express
• proclaim
• pronounce
• recite
• speak