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Synonyms

declare

American  
[dih-klair] / dɪˈklɛər /

verb (used with object)

declared, declaring
  1. to make known or state clearly, especially in explicit or formal terms.

    to declare one's position in a controversy.

  2. to announce officially; proclaim.

    to declare a state of emergency; to declare a winner.

  3. to state emphatically.

    He declared that the allegation was a lie.

    Synonyms:
    state, asseverate, aver
    Antonyms:
    deny
  4. to manifest; reveal; show.

    Her attendance at the rally declared her political allegiance.

    Synonyms:
    publish, disclose
  5. to make due statement of, especially goods for duty or income for taxation.

  6. to make (a dividend) payable.

  7. Bridge. to bid (a trump suit or no-trump).


verb (used without object)

declared, declaring
  1. to make a declaration.

  2. to proclaim oneself (usually followed by for oragainst ).

    He declared against the proposal.

  3. Cricket. (of a team) to surrender a turn at bat in an innings before ten players are put out.

declare British  
/ dɪˈklɛə /

verb

  1. (may take a clause as object) to make clearly known or announce officially

    to declare one's interests

    war was declared

  2. to state officially that (a person, fact, etc) is as specified

    he declared him fit

  3. (may take a clause as object) to state emphatically; assert

  4. to show, reveal, or manifest

    the heavens declare the glory of God

  5. (intr; often foll by for or against) to make known one's choice or opinion

  6. to make a complete statement of (dutiable goods, etc)

  7. (also intr) cards

    1. to display (a card or series of ards) on the table so as to add to one's score

    2. to decide (the trump suit) by making the final bid

  8. (intr) cricket to close an innings voluntarily before all ten wickets have fallen

  9. to authorize the payment of (a dividend) from corporate net profit

"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

Related Words

Declare, affirm, assert, protest imply making something known emphatically, openly, or formally. To declare is to make known, sometimes in the face of actual or potential contradiction: to declare someone the winner of a contest. To affirm is to make a statement based on one's reputation for knowledge or veracity, or so related to a generally recognized truth that denial is not likely: to affirm the necessity of high standards. To assert is to state boldly, usually without other proof than personal authority or conviction: to assert that the climate is changing. To protest is to affirm publicly, as if in the face of doubt: to protest that a newspaper account is misleading.

Other Word Forms

  • declarable adjective
  • misdeclare verb
  • predeclare verb (used with object)
  • redeclare verb (used with object)
  • undeclarable adjective

Etymology

Origin of declare

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English declaren, from Latin dēclārāre “to announce, make evident, reveal,” from dē- de- + clārāre “to make clear” (from clārus clear )

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.

Through the summer, official droughts were declared across several regions in England and Wales, by the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales respectively.

From BBC

A mistrial was declared Monday in the trial of former New York state aide Linda Sun as jurors deadlocked over allegations that she became rich from acting as a Chinese agent.

From The Wall Street Journal

A lieutenant-colonel who had not been on patrol with the rest of the group was declared not guilty.

From BBC

A wildlife charity has declared 2025 "the Year of the Blooming Octopus" after record numbers were spotted off the south-west coast of England.

From BBC

The new kickoff format means they have to declare their intentions beforehand.

From The Wall Street Journal