utter

[ uht-er ]

/ ˈʌt ər /

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See synonyms for: utter / uttered / uttering on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to give audible expression to; speak or pronounce: unable to utter her feelings; Words were uttered in my hearing.

to give forth (cries, notes, etc.) with the voice: to utter a sigh.

Phonetics. to produce (speech sounds, speechlike sounds, syllables, words, etc.) audibly, with or without reference to formal language.

to express (oneself or itself), especially in words.

to give forth (a sound) otherwise than with the voice: The engine uttered a shriek.

to express by written or printed words.

to make publicly known; publish: to utter a libel.

to put into circulation, as coins, notes, and especially counterfeit money or forged checks.

to expel; emit.

Obsolete. to publish, as a book.

Obsolete. to sell.

verb (used without object)

to employ the faculty of speech; use the voice to talk, make sounds, etc.: His piety prevented him from uttering on religion.

to sustain utterance; undergo speaking: Those ideas are so dishonest they will not utter.

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Did you ever collect all those state quarters? Put them to good use on this quiz about curious state monikers and the facts around them.

Question 1 of 8

Mississippi’s nickname comes from the magnificent trees that grow there. What is it?

The Sunflower State

The Evergreen State

The Magnolia State

The Mockingbird State

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of utter

1350–1400; Middle English outren (see out, -er⁶); cognate with German äussern to declare

OTHER WORDS FROM utter

ut·ter·a·ble, adjectiveut·ter·er, nounut·ter·less, adjectiveun·ut·tered, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH utter

udder, utter

Words nearby utter

Utrillo, Utsunomiya, ut supra, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, utter, utterance, utter a word, utter barrister, uttering, utterly

Definition for utter (2 of 2)

utter²

[ uht-er ]

/ ˈʌt ər /

adjective

complete; total; absolute: her utter abandonment to grief.

unconditional; unqualified: an utter denial.

Origin of utter

before 900; Middle English; Old English uttra, ūtera outer. See out, -er⁴

synonym study for utter

1. See absolute.

OTHER WORDS FROM utter

ut·ter·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for utter

These are three words that are not typically uttered by politicians.
The ‘Commander in Grief’ steps up to the microphone|Monica Hesse|March 12, 2021|Washington Post
When a bunch of X-Men and Avengers try to return the world to its original reality, Wanda famously utters, “No more mutants,” and disappears a bunch of superheroes from the Marvel Universe.
All of Your WandaVision Questions, Answered|Eliana Dockterman|March 5, 2021|Time
Linguist Nicholas Evans had heard the Kaiadilt people, an Aboriginal group in Northern Australia, utter “malji” on the beach many times.
Local languages are dying out and taking invaluable knowledge with them|Hannah Seo|January 25, 2021|Popular Science
Urban economists, particularly those on the self-satisfied coasts, tend to envision utter hopelessness for the region.
The Rustbelt Roars Back From the Dead|Joel Kotkin, Richey Piiparinen|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

That was nothing compared to the utter destruction going on across town.
Raging Protesters Set Ferguson on Fire|Justin Glawe|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The utter lack of beds provides a vivid commentary on the extreme nature of Communism.
The Secret Soviet Power Bunker—in Latvia, a Hiding Place for the Elite|Brandon Presser|September 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was in so much pain he could hardly utter two words at a time.
Beating Cancer & Dodging Israel's Bombs|Itay Hod|September 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The complete and utter lack of compassion or a clue exhibited by these people is shameful in the extreme.
The Psychology of Sex Slave Rings|Charlotte Lytton|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He replied that he had no objections, provided she did not encumber the carriage with bandboxes, which were his utter abhorrence.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
From mere regrets he was passing now, through dismay, into utter repentance of his promise.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Allcraft winced, as every syllable made known the speaker's actual strength—his own dependence and utter weakness.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
When trusted with anything like the command of a mixed body of troops he proved an utter failure.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Not one word did Mrs. Dodd utter for many days to her husband of her momentous conversation with the squire.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills

British Dictionary definitions for utter (1 of 2)

utter¹

/ (ˈʌtə) /

verb

to give audible expression to (something)to utter a growl

criminal law to put into circulation (counterfeit coin, forged banknotes, etc)

(tr) to make publicly known; publishto utter slander

obsolete to give forth, issue, or emit

Derived forms of utter

utterable, adjectiveutterableness, nounutterer, nounutterless, adjective

Word Origin for utter

C14: probably originally a commercial term, from Middle Dutch ūteren (modern Dutch uiteren) to make known; related to Middle Low German ūtern to sell, show

British Dictionary definitions for utter (2 of 2)

utter²

/ (ˈʌtə) /

adjective

(prenominal) (intensifier)an utter fool; utter bliss; the utter limit

Word Origin for utter

C15: from Old English utera outer, comparative of ūte out (adv); related to Old High German ūzaro, Old Norse ūtri

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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utter

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Origin of utter

OTHER WORDS FROM utter

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH utter

Words nearby utter

Definition for utter (2 of 2)

adjective

Origin of utter

synonym study for utter

OTHER WORDS FROM utter

Example sentences from the Web for utter

British Dictionary definitions for utter (1 of 2)

verb

Derived forms of utter

Word Origin for utter

British Dictionary definitions for utter (2 of 2)

adjective

Word Origin for utter

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

utter

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

QUIZZES

THINK YOU’VE GOT A HANDLE ON THIS US STATE NICKNAME QUIZ?

Origin of utter

OTHER WORDS FROM utter

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH utter

Words nearby utter

Definition for utter (2 of 2)

adjective

Origin of utter

synonym study for utter

OTHER WORDS FROM utter

Words related to utter

Example sentences from the Web for utter

British Dictionary definitions for utter (1 of 2)

verb

Derived forms of utter

Word Origin for utter

British Dictionary definitions for utter (2 of 2)

adjective

Word Origin for utter