pronounce

[pruh-nouns]

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

/ 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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pronounce¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pronounce¹

C14: from Latin prōnuntiāre to announce, from _pro- ¹ + nuntiāre to announce

Example Sentences

But even the organization that unveiled the winning word -- pronounced "six-seven" and never "sixty-seven" -- admitted it was not exactly sure about its meaning.

Read more on Barron's

Police confirmed in another release that the drivers of the BMW and Cybertruck both died — the former was pronounced dead at the scene and the latter died after he was transported to a nearby hospital.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The response in bond markets, where yields largely track traders’ expectations for future Fed policy, was more pronounced.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Despite attempts to revive him, Mr Johal was pronounced dead at the scene at 15:16.

Read more on BBC

Overall, the differences were smallest in monogamous species, while polygamy and pronounced size differences were associated with a more pronounced advantage for females.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

• assert 
• deliver 
• proclaim