pronounce
Americanverb (used with object)
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to enunciate or articulate (sounds, words, sentences, etc.).
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to utter or sound in a particular manner in speaking.
He pronounces his words indistinctly.
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to utter or articulate in the accepted or correct manner.
I can't pronounce this word.
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to declare (a person or thing) to be as specified.
She pronounced it the best salmon she had ever tasted.
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to utter or deliver formally or solemnly.
to pronounce sentence.
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to announce authoritatively or officially.
The judge pronounced the defendant guilty.
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to indicate the pronunciation of (words) by providing a phonetic transcription.
This dictionary pronounces most of the words entered.
verb (used without object)
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to pronounce words, phrases, etc.
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to make a statement or assertion, especially an authoritative statement (often followed byon ).
He was required to pronounce on the findings of his research.
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to give an opinion or decision (usually followed byon ).
to pronounce on an important matter.
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to indicate the pronunciation of words.
a spelling book that pronounces.
verb
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to utter or articulate (a sound or sequence of sounds)
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(tr) to utter or articulate (sounds or words) in the correct way
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(tr; may take a clause as object) to proclaim officially and solemnly
I now pronounce you man and wife
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(when tr, may take a clause as object) to declare as one's judgment
to pronounce the death sentence upon someone
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(tr) to make a phonetic transcription of (sounds or words)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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pronounceablenessnoun
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pronouncernoun
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prepronounceverb (used with object)
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pronounceableadjective
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unpronounceableadjective
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unpronouncingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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pronouncesimple
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pronouncessimple
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have pronouncedperfect
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has pronouncedperfect
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am pronouncingprogressive
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are pronouncingprogressive
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is pronouncingprogressive
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have been pronouncingperfect progressive
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has been pronouncingperfect progressive
Past
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pronouncedsimple
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had pronouncedperfect
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was pronouncingprogressive
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were pronouncingprogressive
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had been pronouncingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of pronounce
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English pronouncen, from Middle French prononcier, from Latin prōnūntiāre “to proclaim, announce, recite, utter”; see pro- 1, announce
Explanation
If you have a teacher who asks the class to call him "Mr. B," it's probably because his name is really hard to pronounce. When you pronounce a word, you sound it out. When you say something in a particular way, you pronounce it. The verb pronounce has another meaning, too — "to declare formally." It's not too different from announcing something, but it implies something more official and solemn — just think of the phrase "I now pronounce you husband and wife."
Vocabulary lists containing pronounce
50 Words from Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Excerpt from "Oedipus Rex"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
I don’t care if it contains added MSG and holds a laundry list of seasonings you can’t pronounce.
From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026
Whenever I tried to pronounce certain words, my vocal cords spasmed apart.
From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2026
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
The firm was previously called Terry, Slane & Ruohonen, but nobody could pronounce his name.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 11, 2026
Often, books will include a transliteration of how to pronounce the lyrics as well as a translation.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
You can hear it in the way she pronounces tortang talong or yuzu kosho crisp.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
One of his sons pronounces the name "Hit-lay", in order to escape embarrassment, and his grandchildren have taken their mothers' names.
From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026
Now when Mr. Khamenei pronounces on critical issues, VIPs he once humbled contradict him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 24, 2025
He’s a charming voice actor, and she pronounces every word through her nostrils, so they balance each other out better than any other couple on the show.
From Salon ● Apr. 24, 2025
“It seems this year’s number one draft pick will be an untested, untried, unranked wild card”—he pronounces each word slowly, with huge emphasis—“who nevertheless impressed us all with her disruption of the opening ceremony game!”
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
The global slowdown in demand for pricey goods has been especially pronounced in China, a country that once drove the sector’s growth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
As the months passed, those patterns became less pronounced.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
The force said the 26-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident at St Catherines, Cairndow.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
The latest results highlight a pronounced turnaround for Intel, which just two years ago had to suspend its dividend and conduct massive layoffs as it looked to conserve cash.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026
She’s waiting for me to answer, and meanwhile I’m fixated on the way she pronounced his first name.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
New England is ready to absorb Scotland as its seventh state as soon as the Scots agree to stop pronouncing their r’s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
The meeting was hailed as a massive success with both of them exchanging hats and autographs, and the president pronouncing his Colombian counterpart as “terrific.”
From Salon ● Feb. 5, 2026
Could his trouble pronouncing acetaminophen be a phonemic paraphasic error?
From Slate ● Jan. 26, 2026
"When the institution tried to correct this, it felt like being told you're pronouncing your mate's name wrong."
From BBC ● Nov. 26, 2025
“How—can—I—tell—you—anything,” Eilonwy said, deliberately pronouncing every word and making extravagant grimaces as she did so, “if—you—don’t—want—me—to—talk?”
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
