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 Vatican has not announced a date that the tourist attractions will reopen, as there is no fixed time limit for the election, which is officially known as a conclave. Tessa Solomon For Artnews, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2025 Barbra Streisand has announced The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume 2, an all-star duets album featuring Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Ariana Grande, Mariah Carey, and more. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 30 Apr. 2025 Wild garlic, a cousin of chives that grows from March to May, is in full bloom, officially announcing the height of spring. Christina Pérez, Vogue, 30 Apr. 2025 Francis died Easter Monday at 88, the Vatican announced. Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 30 Apr. 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 4 May. 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

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