utter

¹ American  

[uht-er] / ˈʌt ər /

verb (used with object)

1. to give audible expression to; speak or pronounce.

   unable to utter her feelings;

   Words were uttered in my hearing.

   Synonyms:

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

2. to give forth (cries, notes, etc.) with the voice.

   to utter a sigh.

   Synonyms:

   breathe, give, emit

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

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

5. to give forth (a sound) otherwise than with the voice.

   The engine uttered a shriek.

6. to express by written or printed words.

7. to make publicly known; publish.

   to utter a libel.

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

9. British Dialect. to expel; discharge or emit.

10. Obsolete. to publish, as a book.

11. Obsolete. to sell.

---

verb (used without object)

1. to employ the faculty of speech; use the voice to talk, make sounds, etc..

   His piety prevented him from uttering on religion.

2. to sustain utterance; undergo speaking.

   Those ideas are so dishonest they will not utter.

utter ² American  

[uht-er] / ˈʌt ər /

adjective

1. complete; total; absolute.

   her utter abandonment to grief;

   utter strangers.

2. unconditional; unqualified.

   an utter denial.

---

utter ¹ British  

/ ˈʌtə /

verb

1. to give audible expression to (something)

   to utter a growl

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

3. (tr) to make publicly known; publish

   to utter slander

4. obsolete to give forth, issue, or emit

---

utter ² British  

/ ˈʌtə /

adjective

1. (prenominal) (intensifier)

   an utter fool

   utter bliss

   the utter limit

---

Related Words

See absolute.

Other Word Forms

• unuttered
  adjective
• utterable
  adjective
• utterableness
  noun
• utterer
  noun
• utterless
  adjective
• utterness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of utter¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English outren, uttren; cognate with German äussern “to declare”; see origin at out, -er ⁶

Origin of utter²

First recorded before 900; Middle English outre, utter(e), Old English uttra, ūtera “outer”; see origin at out, -er ⁴

Explanation

The adjective utter is often used as an intensifier to mean "total" — often with negative connotations (like "utter failure"). As a verb, the word has a totally unrelated meaning: to speak or to articulate a sound. If you utter something, you give it voice. You could utter a cry or utter complete sentences; either way, you are expressing yourself. However, if you declare someone an utter moron, you are saying he is a complete and total moron; not that he is a moron expressing himself. Don't confuse the spelling of utter with udder — the latter is the part of the cow that you milk.

Example Sentences

The obituaries, social media posts and GoFundMe pages capture the utter despair of the families, though none of them reckon with the decision not to get the vitamin K shot.

From Salon • May 7, 2026

For years, they benefited from a fantastic competitive advantage: complete and utter neglect.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 2, 2026

Backs to the wall, utter defiance, questions posed and questions answered.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

Home fans flooded the pitch, running around in utter jubilation.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2026

“It is quite true,” she replied, referring to him with the indifference of utter contempt.

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

Related Words

• announce
• articulate
• assert
• asseverate
• declaim
• declare
• deliver
• enunciate
• express
• proclaim
• pronounce
• recite
• speak