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

/ prəˈklæmətərɪ, -trɪ, ˌprɒkləˈmeɪʃən, 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

Other Word Forms

• proclaimer noun
• reproclaim verb (used with object)
• self-proclaimed adjective
• self-proclaiming adjective
• unproclaimed adjective
• proclamation noun
• proclamatory 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

One day the administration is full force America First isolationism, and the next finds it blowing up boats full of civilians in international waters, with the president proclaiming “to the victors go the spoils.”

Read more on Salon

He was pumping iron and clad in a tight black T-shirt that boldly proclaimed, “F— the Politicians. Terminate Gerrymandering.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A golden golf ball for the man proclaiming to have ushered in a “golden age.”

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For example, the envelope may proclaim, “Medicare Beneficiary Notification” in bold letters, with an alarming-looking red stamp emblazoned across the top reading “SECOND NOTICE.”

Read more on MarketWatch

But many of the significant changes in classrooms came out of the Legislature, which has continued this year to propose bills to rid schools of “inappropriate materials” and proclaim that, in Oklahoma, “Christ is King.”

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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