Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for utter on Thesaurus.com 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. Show More
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. Show More
Origin of utter 1 1350–1400; Middle English outren (see
out ,
-er6 ); cognate with
German äussern to declare
Related forms ut·ter·a·ble , adjective ut·ter·er , noun ut·ter·less , adjective un·ut·tered , adjective Can be confused udder utter complete; total; absolute: her utter abandonment to grief. unconditional; unqualified: an utter denial. Show More
Origin of utter 2 before 900; Middle English; Old English uttra, ūtera outer. See
out ,
-er4 Related forms ut·ter·ness , noun Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for utter sheer ,
unmitigated ,
pure ,
recite ,
pronounce ,
blurt ,
whisper ,
express ,
deliver ,
mutter ,
articulate ,
enunciate ,
assert ,
shout ,
proclaim ,
speak ,
perfect ,
complete ,
confounded ,
blessed Examples from the Web for utter Contemporary Examples of utter That was nothing compared to the utter destruction going on across town.
The utter lack of beds provides a vivid commentary on the extreme nature of Communism.
The complete and utter lack of compassion or a clue exhibited by these people is shameful in the extreme.
In fact, Lauer even ended up with a character arc of his own, involving his reluctance to utter the word “sharknado.”
Despite rumors spreading that his daughter is a harlot, Dill (Stanley Tucci) has complete and utter faith in her, no matter what.
Historical Examples of utter No one has seen him shed a tear, of heard him utter a complaint.
I am more grateful to you than words can utter —and I will always be glad to do anything for you.
Yet he failed not to regard these indulgences as utter folly.
He gazes at me, as if he were about to utter a word of paternal advice.
One of the marvellous things about the child was his utter lack of favouritism.
British Dictionary definitions for utter 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; publish to utter slander obsolete to give forth, issue, or emit Show More
Derived Forms utterable , adjective utterableness , noun utterer , noun utterless , 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
(prenominal) (intensifier) an utter fool ; utter bliss ; the utter limit Show More
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
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Word Origin and History for utter adj. "complete, total," Old English utera , uterra , "outer," comparative adjective formed from ut (see out ), from Proto-Germanic *utizon (cf. Old Norse utar , Old Frisian uttra , Middle Dutch utere , Dutch uiter- , Old High German uzar , German äußer "outer").
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v. "speak, say," c.1400, in part from Middle Low German utern "to turn out, show, speak," from uter "outer," comparative adj. formed from ut "out;" in part from Middle English verb outen "to disclose," from Old English utan "to put out," from ut (see out ). Cf. German äussern "to utter, express," from aus "out;" and colloquial phrase out with it "speak up!" Formerly also used as a commercial verb (as release is now). Related: Uttered ; uttering .
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
