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.

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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)

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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

The leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics will then pronounce a traditional blessing at 1000 GMT that will be closely followed this year.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

Jessie Stride, another contestant on this series of The Traitors, has a stammer and spoke on the show about struggling to pronounce her own name.

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2026

Asked to pronounce “Dokoupil,” few of the commuters came close even though he had been co-host of “CBS Mornings” for several years.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2026

When he pitched his frozen burrito, he wasn’t just selling his product, he was selling the idea of the burrito, and even had to help clients pronounce it correctly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 26, 2025

She told me some words were too hard for her to pronounce, so “hajeeb” it is in gym class.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali

Related Words

• assert
• deliver
• proclaim