declare

[ dih-klair ]

verb (used with object)

, de·clared, de·clar·ing.

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)

, de·clared, de·clar·ing.

1. to make a declaration.
2. to proclaim oneself (usually followed by for or against ):

   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

/ 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

Derived Forms

• deˈclarable, adjective

Other Words From

• de·clara·ble adjective
• misde·clare verb misdeclared misdeclaring
• prede·clare verb (used with object) predeclared predeclaring
• rede·clare verb (used with object) redeclared redeclaring
• unde·clara·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of declare¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of declare¹

C14: from Latin dēclārāre to make clear, from clārus bright, clear

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

They were not being hyperbolic in declaring medical racism a public health crisis.

From Washington Post

Plus, by essentially declaring that you quit, you’ve made all the friends you’re going to make in this life, you’re denying yourself whatever joys serendipity has to offer.

From Washington Post

Then the city declared it was moving ahead to reopen schools without the consent of the teachers union.

From Washington Post

A year after smallpox was declared eradicated, bad lab safety procedures led to another outbreak in Birmingham in the UK.

From Vox

Further exacerbating the situation, the county sent residents a recent email declaring that just because the state allows people in lower tiers to get vaccinated, “that doesn’t mean that every county is able to do that.”

From Washington Post

Being the first to declare feelings is incredibly difficult.

From The Daily Beast

And it led him in his teenage years to declare his ambition to become a cop.

From The Daily Beast

That attack prompted the government to declare a three-month state of emergency in parts of North Sinai.

From The Daily Beast

If J-Law suddenly decided to declare solidarity with Thai anti-junta activists?

From The Daily Beast

Beijing also demanded that Abe declare he will no longer pay visits to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.

From The Daily Beast

Nations shall declare his wisdom, and the church shall shew forth his praise.

From Project Gutenberg

Hasten the time, and remember the end, that they may declare thy wonderful works.

From Project Gutenberg

Insurrectionary movements at Rome in consequence of the pope's refusal to declare war against Austria.

From Project Gutenberg

They used to declare that every unbaptised baby would go to Hell and burn for ever in fire and brimstone.

From Project Gutenberg

"I declare, wife, that was an awful accident over to the mills," said Mr. Slocum.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acknowledge
• advocate
• affirm
• announce
• argue
• assert
• claim
• confirm
• disclose
• inform
• insist
• maintain
• proclaim
• reaffirm
• repeat
• reveal
• stress
• tell