announce

verb

an·​nounce ə-ˈnau̇n(t)s How to pronounce announce (audio)
announced; announcing

transitive verb

1
: to make known publicly : proclaim
announce a deal
2
a
: to give notice of the arrival, presence, or readiness of (something)
announce dinner
b
: to indicate beforehand : foretell
an invention that announced a new era
3
US : to serve as an announcer of
announce a football game

intransitive verb

1
: to serve as an announcer
2
US
a
: to declare one's candidacy
announce for president
b
: to declare oneself politically
announce against a nominee
Choose the Right Synonym for announce

declare, announce, proclaim, promulgate mean to make known publicly.

declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known.

the referee declared the contest a draw

announce implies the declaration of something for the first time.

announced their engagement at a party

proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively.

the president proclaimed a national day of mourning

promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law.

promulgated an edict of religious toleration

Examples of announce in a Sentence

The government announced a cut in taxes. They announced plans to move the company out of the state. The company president has announced her retirement. Their engagement was formally announced in the newspaper.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The comedian, who announced her departure from SNL last month ahead of the show's 51st season, will perform a comedy show at Lincoln Center Theater's Claire Tow Theater in New York City. Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2025 Cleveland Browns wide receiver David Bell announced his retirement from the National Football League on Tuesday. Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Oct. 2025 While Amazon plans these layoffs of corporate roles, the company announced its typical holiday hiring spree of warehouse staff on Tuesday. Jason Del Rey, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2025 Pulaski County Sheriff Eric Higgins officially announced on Monday his second reelection bid for the job he's held since 2019. Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for announce

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French annuncier, from Latin annuntiare, from ad- + nuntiare to report, from nuntius messenger

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of announce was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Announce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/announce. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

announce

verb
an·​nounce ə-ˈnau̇n(t)s How to pronounce announce (audio)
announced; announcing
1
: to make known publicly : proclaim
2
: to give notice of the coming, arrival, or presence of

More from Merriam-Webster on announce

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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