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

For the first time in recent memory, headlines are proclaiming that “Republicans are in disarray” rather than Democrats.

Read more on Salon

The American who first set foot on the lunar surface and proclaimed this moment as “one giant leap for mankind,” Neil Armstrong, was an Eagle Scout.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The British Museum, the Louvre or Vienna’s central museums proclaim the once vast power of their nations’ empires; visitors were invited to share in the glory and pay tribute to these nations’ accomplishments.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

While Hoover publicly proclaimed his FBI independent of politics, he sometimes did the bidding of presidents, including Nixon.

Read more on Salon

Hegseth took aim at the packed room’s waistlines, proclaiming that he no longer wanted to see “fat generals and admirals,” or overweight troops.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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