vociferate

American  

[voh-sif-uh-reyt] / voʊˈsɪf əˌreɪt /

verb (used with or without object)

vociferated, vociferating

1. to speak or cry out loudly or noisily; shout; bawl.

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vociferate British  

/ vəʊˈsɪfəˌreɪt /

verb

1. to exclaim or cry out about (something) clamorously, vehemently, or insistently

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Other Word Forms

• vociferation
  noun
• vociferator
  noun
• outvociferate
  verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of vociferate

1590–1600; < Latin vōciferātus (past participle of vōciferāri to shout), equivalent to vōci-, stem of vōx voice + fer ( re ) to bear ¹ + -ātus -ate ¹

Explanation

To vociferate is to shout, wail, or yell loudly and vehemently. People vociferate when they want to be heard. Vociferating is a fancy word for shouting. During a chase, a police officer might vociferate, "Stop!" In sports, coaches are often seen vociferating at referees to protest a bad call. While parents might vociferate when a child is in danger or misbehaving, the word implies a loud, forceful outcry rather than just talking loudly. Because it involves being loud and making a scene, you should never vociferate in a quiet place like a library or a theater — unless there's an emergency.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

vociferate vociferated vociferating

These bronze rowdies whoop and vociferate on all sides.

From Time Magazine Archive

I vociferate, as a Parrot in the great cage of the World, I hop, screeching, 'What I say is!' from perch to perch.

From More Trivia by Smith, Logan Pearsall

La Louve, notwithstanding, snatched the bread from the hands of Mont Saint-Jean, and began to wave her knife about, and to vociferate loudly.

From The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 3 of 6 by Sue, Eugène

One of these I capsized, but was gone on the wings of the wind before he could even vociferate an oath.

From The Snow Image and other stories by Hawthorne, Nathaniel

When he does attempt to vociferate, the asthmatic complaint under which he evidently labours prevents him from delivering the sentences in more copious instalments than the following:— “I’ll fight—till—from my bones—my flesh—be hacked!”

From Punch, or the London Charivari. Volume 1, July 31, 1841 by Various

The story you have told," Senator Norris vociferated, "is a falsehood.

From Time Magazine Archive

Now another bellower cupped his hands, vociferated: "Long cheer for Pound!"

From Time Magazine Archive

Last week Asquithians and Georgians vociferated over an issue of molehill stature which they erected into a Liberal mountain.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Oh, never!" vociferated Ned, starting back in dismay.

From Ralph of the Roundhouse by Chapman, Allen

"Bring here that ladder, boy!" vociferated the imperious great man.

From The Vicar of Wrexhill by Trollope, Mrs

Not until last week did George Moore know the crude, earthy, tangible joy of having written a play which London proceeded to applaud, not merely from the lordly stalls but from the common, vociferating gallery.

From Time Magazine Archive

I ran through the rooms, still vociferating, and still mocked by the echo of my own voice.

From Ti-Ping Tien-Kwoh The History of the Ti-Ping Revolution (Volume I) by Lindley, Augustus F.

The shops were all open, the artificers all at work, the unintelligible criers vociferating their wares, and the people in their working-day dresses.

From Pencillings by the Way Written During Some Years of Residence and Travel in Europe by Willis, N. Parker

It should also be noted that the beggars who generally hung about the burgomaster's dwelling were all the while vociferating under the windows of the Town Hall.

From Bartholomew Sastrow Being the Memoirs of a German Burgomaster by Sastrow, Bartholomew

I should think there were several thousand people in its area—all buying or selling, and vociferating, as usual, at the top of their voices.

From Pencillings by the Way Written During Some Years of Residence and Travel in Europe by Willis, N. Parker