utter

[ uht-er ]

See synonyms for utter 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.

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 for utter

1	articulate, enunciate, pronounce, say, speak, state, verbalize, voice
2	emit, give; breathe

See synonyms for utter on Thesaurus.com

Other words from utter

ut·ter·a·ble, adjective
ut·ter·er, noun
ut·ter·less, adjective
un·ut·tered, adjective

Words that may be confused with utter

udder, utter

Other definitions for utter (2 of 2)

utter²

[ uht-er ]

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use utter in a sentence

And the utterers of both queries came forth on to the stoep, causing their brothers to break into a splutter of mirth.
Aletta | Bertram Mitford
And surrounded by those utterers of Brahma, the king shone resplendent in their midst.
Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 1 | Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
Thus questioned those utterers of Brahma replied, "It is even for offspring."
Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Bk. 3 Pt. 1 | Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
The fraternity and sisterhood of utterers played many parts, and were banded in strict compact with the forgers.
Recollections of a Policeman | William Russell (aka Thomas Waters)
The inhabitants of these marvelous worlds have been the singers of songs, utterers of great speech—the creators of art.
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 3 (of 12) | Robert G. Ingersoll

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; publish: to utter slander
obsolete to give forth, issue, or emit

Origin of 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

Derived forms of utter

utterable, adjective
utterableness, noun
utterer, noun
utterless, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for utter (2 of 2)

utter²

/ (ˈʌtə) /

adjective

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

Origin of 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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