vocalize

American  

[voh-kuh-lahyz] / ˈvoʊ kəˌlaɪz /

especially British, vocalise

verb (used with object)

vocalizes, present (3rd person singular) vocalized, past participle, past vocalizing present participle

1. to make vocal; utter; articulate; sing.

2. to endow with a voice; cause to utter.

3. Phonetics.

   1. to voice.

   2. to change into a vowel (contrasted with consonantalize).

4. (of Hebrew, Arabic, and other writing systems that do not usually indicate vowels) to furnish with vowels or vowel points.

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verb (used without object)

vocalizes, present (3rd person singular) vocalized, past participle, past vocalizing present participle

1. to use the voice, as in speech or song.

2. to sing without uttering words, especially to warm up the voice, practice vowel sounds, etc., before a performance.

3. to sing scales, arpeggios, trills, or the like, usually to a solmization syllable or a vowel sound.

4. Phonetics. to become changed into a vowel.

vocalize British  

/ ˈvəʊkəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to express with or use the voice; articulate (a speech, song, etc)

2. (tr) to make vocal or articulate

3. (tr) phonetics

   1. to articulate (a speech sound) with voice

   2. to change (a consonant) into a vowel

4. another word for vowelize

5. (intr) to sing a melody on a vowel, etc

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• misvocalization
  noun
• nonvocalization
  noun
• vocalization
  noun
• vocalizer
  noun
• subvocalize
  verb
• unvocalized
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• vocalizing
  present
• vocalized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• vocalize
  simple
• vocalizes
  simple
• have vocalized
  perfect
• has vocalized
  perfect
• are vocalizing
  progressive
• am vocalizing
  progressive
• is vocalizing
  progressive
• have been vocalizing
  perfect progressive
• has been vocalizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• vocalized
  simple
• had vocalized
  perfect
• was vocalizing
  progressive
• were vocalizing
  progressive
• had been vocalizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will vocalize
  simple
• will have vocalized
  perfect
• will be vocalizing
  progressive
• will have been vocalizing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of vocalize

First recorded in 1660–70; vocal + -ize

Explanation

When you speak, sing, or utter any kind of sound, you vocalize. A tiny baby can only vocalize gurgles and coos, but by the time she's three or four, she'll vocalize all kinds of opinions. Vocalize literally means to make a noise using your voice — in fact, vocalize is rooted in the Latin root word for "voice," vox. It's nearly a synonym for verbalize, "put into words," except that when you vocalize you may speak using words or you may merely make noises. So while your dog is smart enough to vocalize a response when you say, "Speak," he's still not smart enough to verbalize.

Example Sentences

They also vocalize to tell their chicks they are back at the nest with food and, seemingly, to cheer on their babies when they’re learning to fly.

From Salon • Oct. 20, 2024

“So, I went up on my medicine and I see my therapist. I try to see her every Wednesday, and I try to vocalize a lot when I’m feeling overwhelmed.”

From Seattle Times • Jun. 5, 2024

Early birders have the best chance of catching a lot of activity, as many species begin to vocalize and feed to greet the day.

From New York Times • Jun. 29, 2023

The ability to vocalize opposition to unjust laws is an indispensable pillar of democracy that should not be taken for granted.

From Slate • Jun. 27, 2023

I was trying to think of some way to vocalize this epiphany when Judy came back with the drinks.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt