enunciate

verb

enun·​ci·​ate ē-ˈnən(t)-sē-ˌāt How to pronounce enunciate (audio)
enunciated; enunciating

transitive verb

1
a
: to make a definite or systematic statement of
b
: announce, proclaim
enunciated the new policy
2
: articulate, pronounce
enunciate all the syllables

intransitive verb

: to utter articulate sounds
enunciable
ē-ˈnən(t)-sē-ə-bəl How to pronounce enunciate (audio)
-ˈnən-ch(ē-)ə-
adjective

Examples of enunciate in a Sentence

He set out to enunciate the basic principles of his system. enunciate a basic set of beliefs Children should be taught to enunciate clearly.
Recent Examples on the Web Yoshioka, as well, has always striven to make sure that her vowels are enunciated and the melody shines through clearly. Billboard Japan, Billboard, 13 Nov. 2023 Keith haltingly enunciates his room number in a half-giggle, because, Who cares about the room number? Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 21 Dec. 2022 As documented repeatedly by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Europe--and for all practical purposes Europe alone--has made substantial progress toward achieving the goals enunciated in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. IEEE Spectrum, 22 Feb. 2013 But Republicans are stuck in a mess of their own making because the only candidate in the race that’s enunciating, however insincerely, a commitment to save these programs is Trump. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 2 Mar. 2023 But Dragon required users to enunciate clearly and pause between each word, and cost nine thousand dollars. James Somers, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2023 And the actors haven’t all come to grips with how to project their voices and enunciate in a way that lets them be heard and understood when their backs are to half their audience. Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2022 Waiting for the sourdough to rise has given people the patience to enunciate multisyllable names like Genevieve, Josephine, and Theodore. Laura Lane, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2022 The fatty meat and wok hei work well together to enunciate the charred flavor in each bite, offset by pungent Thai basil and young green peppercorns. Soleil Ho, San Francisco Chronicle, 26 Oct. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'enunciate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin enuntiatus, past participle of enuntiare to report, declare, from e- + nuntiare to report — more at announce

First Known Use

1623, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of enunciate was in 1623

Dictionary Entries Near enunciate

Cite this Entry

“Enunciate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enunciate. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

enunciate

verb
enun·​ci·​ate ē-ˈnən(t)-sē-ˌāt How to pronounce enunciate (audio)
enunciated; enunciating
1
: to make known publicly : proclaim
2
: to pronounce clearly : articulate
enunciable adjective
enunciation noun
enunciator noun

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