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.

British Dialect. to expel; discharge or 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR utter

1 articulate, enunciate, pronounce, say, speak, state, verbalize, voice.

2 emit, give; breathe.

See synonyms for utter on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is commonly used with other verbs to express intention?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of utter

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English outren, uttren; cognate with German äussern “to declare”; see origin at out, -er⁶

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

Other definitions for utter (2 of 2)

utter²

[ uht-er ]

/ ˈʌt ər /

adjective

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

unconditional; unqualified: an utter denial.

Origin of utter

First recorded before 900; Middle English outre, utter(e), Old English uttra, ūtera “outer”; see origin at out, -er⁴

synonym study for utter

1. See absolute.

OTHER WORDS FROM utter

ut·ter·ness, noun

How to use utter in a sentence

There’s also a huge range of gulf-front vacation rentals from which you can sip your morning coffee in utter solitude.
The 25 Best Fall Trips in the World|jversteegh|August 9, 2021|Outside Online
All five officers had sworn the suspect never uttered a word.
Minneapolis Police Were Cleared in the 2013 Killing of Terrance Franklin. A Video Complicates the Story—and Now the Case May Be Reopened|Josiah Bates|June 25, 2021|Time
Oceanside, for now, is not uttering the phrase “managed retreat,” during which, in preparation for continued rising sea levels, officials mandate moving the coastal line inland by buying out property owners and relocating structures.
Morning Report: Oceanside, State at Odds Over Seawalls|Voice of San Diego|June 17, 2021|Voice of San Diego
She also says he told her that if she uttered a word about that evening, he would make sure she never got hired in media again.
Dozens of Women Accused Famous Intellectual Andrés Roemer of Sexual Abuse. They Came Together to Make the World Listen|Meaghan Beatley|June 1, 2021|Time

The cartoonist found a scan of the original 2006 “Boy’s Club” comic art in which Pepe utters his catchphrase, “Feels good man” — the panels that launched countless memes across online forums and platforms.
Matt Furie is trying to reclaim his famous cartoon Pepe the Frog — through NFTs|Michael Cavna|May 30, 2021|Washington Post
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

utter

OTHER WORDS FOR utter

Origin of utter

OTHER WORDS FROM utter

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH utter

Words nearby utter

Other definitions for utter (2 of 2)

Origin of utter

synonym study for utter

OTHER WORDS FROM utter

Words related to utter

How to use utter in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for utter (1 of 2)

Derived forms of utter

Word Origin for utter

British Dictionary definitions for utter (2 of 2)

Word Origin for utter