pronounce

American  

[pruh-nouns] / prəˈnaʊns /

verb (used with object)

pronounced, pronouncing

1. to enunciate or articulate (sounds, words, sentences, etc.).

2. to utter or sound in a particular manner in speaking.

   He pronounces his words indistinctly.

3. to utter or articulate in the accepted or correct manner.

   I can't pronounce this word.

4. to declare (a person or thing) to be as specified.

   She pronounced it the best salmon she had ever tasted.

5. to utter or deliver formally or solemnly.

   to pronounce sentence.

6. to announce authoritatively or officially.

   The judge pronounced the defendant guilty.

7. to indicate the pronunciation of (words) by providing a phonetic transcription.

   This dictionary pronounces most of the words entered.

---

verb (used without object)

pronounced, pronouncing

1. to pronounce words, phrases, etc.

2. to make a statement or assertion, especially an authoritative statement (often followed byon ).

   He was required to pronounce on the findings of his research.

3. to give an opinion or decision (usually followed byon ).

   to pronounce on an important matter.

4. to indicate the pronunciation of words.

   a spelling book that pronounces.

pronounce British  

/ prəˈnaʊns /

verb

1. to utter or articulate (a sound or sequence of sounds)

2. (tr) to utter or articulate (sounds or words) in the correct way

3. (tr; may take a clause as object) to proclaim officially and solemnly

   I now pronounce you man and wife

4. (when tr, may take a clause as object) to declare as one's judgment

   to pronounce the death sentence upon someone

5. (tr) to make a phonetic transcription of (sounds or words)

---

Other Word Forms

• prepronounce verb (used with object)
• pronounceable adjective
• pronounceableness noun
• pronouncer noun
• unpronounceable adjective
• unpronouncing adjective

Etymology

Origin of pronounce

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English pronouncen, from Middle French prononcier, from Latin prōnūntiāre “to proclaim, announce, recite, utter”; pro- ¹, announce

Example Sentences

He was airlifted to a hospital in Reno and pronounced dead days later.

From Los Angeles Times

The researchers concentrated on changes since the 1970s, when global surface temperatures began rising more rapidly and environmental changes became more pronounced.

From Science Daily

In other words, performance declines as misalignment becomes more pronounced.

From Science Daily

Silverblatt was shy and too embarrassed to speak during class because of his inability to clearly pronounce the letter “L,” which appears three times in his own name.

From Los Angeles Times

The man was recovered from the water after several hours and taken to the Royal Derby Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

From BBC

Related Words

• assert
• deliver
• proclaim