ar·tic·u·late
är-ˈti-kyə-lət 
1
a
: expressing oneself readily, clearly, and effectively
an articulate teacher
also
: expressed in such a manner
an articulate argument
b
: divided into syllables or words meaningfully arranged : intelligible
an articulate cry/utterance
c
: able to speak
So furious was he that he was hardly articulate …—
Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
articulately
adverb
articulateness
noun
ar·tic·u·late
är-ˈti-kyə-ˌlāt
articulated; articulating
1
a
: to give clear and effective utterance to : to put into words
articulate one's grievances
He found it hard to articulate his feelings.
b
: to utter distinctly
articulating each note in the musical phrase
c
: to give definition to (something, such as a shape or object)
Eight shades of gray were chosen to articulate different spaces.—Carol Vogel
Carol Vogel
d
: to give shape or expression to (something, such as a theme or concept)
a drama that uses eerie props to articulate a sense of foreboding
2
a
: to unite by or as if by means of a joint : joint
b
: to form or fit into a systematic whole
articulating a program for all school grades
1
: to utter clear and understandable sounds
2
: to become united or connected by or as if by a joint
Most bones articulate with other bones in one or more places.
Examples of articulate in a Sentence
Adjective
But he clearly adored his quick-witted and mercilessly articulate elder daughter. Contrary to feminist accounts of her patriarchal imprisonment, Emily Dickinson's objections to her father's strictures had an affectionate tone …
—Christopher Benfey, New York Review of Books, 17 Jan. 2002
Among the most articulate critics of the tests are the boycotting students, who complain about narrowing opportunities and shrinking curricula.
—Peter Schrag, Atlantic, August 2000
She's an intelligent and articulate speaker.
He was very articulate about his feelings on the subject.
The baby is beginning to form articulate words and phrases.
Verb
She was shocked, she told me, to see that he insisted on talking about her ideas—and about the pains and hopes that gave rise to them. "The only way to keep it is to give it away," he told her, articulating and enacting the essence of altruism.
—Joshua Wolf Shenk, Atlantic, June 2009
"Fiction just doesn't interest me," one 41-year-old construction worker told CNN. "If I'm going to get a story, I'll get a movie," he said, articulating an attitude surely shared by many others in our media-saturated world.
—Sara Nelson, Publishers Weekly, 27 Aug. 2007
Erudite, elderly, and introspective, one of my patients articulates clearly some of today's dilemmas facing both alcoholic patients and their physicians.
—Thomas L. Delbanco, Journal of the American Medical Association, 13 Mar. 1996
He had some trouble articulating his thoughts.
We disagree with the views articulated by the administration.
a theory first articulated by ancient philosophers
the bones that articulate with the clavicle
Christopher Benfey, New York Review of Books, 17 Jan. 2002
Among the most articulate critics of the tests are the boycotting students, who complain about narrowing opportunities and shrinking curricula.
—Peter Schrag, Atlantic, August 2000
She's an intelligent and articulate speaker.
He was very articulate about his feelings on the subject.
The baby is beginning to form articulate words and phrases.
Verb
She was shocked, she told me, to see that he insisted on talking about her ideas—and about the pains and hopes that gave rise to them. "The only way to keep it is to give it away," he told her, articulating and enacting the essence of altruism.
—Joshua Wolf Shenk, Atlantic, June 2009
"Fiction just doesn't interest me," one 41-year-old construction worker told CNN. "If I'm going to get a story, I'll get a movie," he said, articulating an attitude surely shared by many others in our media-saturated world.
—Sara Nelson, Publishers Weekly, 27 Aug. 2007
Erudite, elderly, and introspective, one of my patients articulates clearly some of today's dilemmas facing both alcoholic patients and their physicians.
—Thomas L. Delbanco, Journal of the American Medical Association, 13 Mar. 1996
He had some trouble articulating his thoughts.
We disagree with the views articulated by the administration.
a theory first articulated by ancient philosophers
the bones that articulate with the clavicle
Recent Examples on the Web
Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 19 June 2025
Many of this season’s frequent nominees were articulate and direct about the ways those in the film industry can better support one another during uncertain times.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025
Joseph Longo, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Yet one group remained unconvinced: a coalition of prominent UF graduates and conservative Floridians who publicly raised concerns about Ono’s leadership record — concerns that many within the university, due to professional or institutional ties, could not or would not articulate themselves.
—Avi D. Gordon, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for articulate
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Those who know him describe him as articulate, thoughtful and dedicated.
—Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 19 June 2025
Many of this season’s frequent nominees were articulate and direct about the ways those in the film industry can better support one another during uncertain times.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
Management can clearly articulate the objectives and put appropriate plans in place to accomplish each objective.
—Joseph Longo, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Yet one group remained unconvinced: a coalition of prominent UF graduates and conservative Floridians who publicly raised concerns about Ono’s leadership record — concerns that many within the university, due to professional or institutional ties, could not or would not articulate themselves.
—Avi D. Gordon, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for articulate
Cite this Entry
“Articulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/articulate. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
articulate
1 of 2 adjective
ar·tic·u·late
är-ˈtik-yə-lət
1
a
: clearly understandable
an articulate argument
b
: able to express oneself clearly and well
an articulate speaker
2
: consisting of segments united by joints : jointed
articulate animals
articulately
adverb
articulateness
noun
articulate
2 of 2 verb
ar·tic·u·late
är-ˈtik-yə-ˌlāt
articulated; articulating
1
a
: to speak in clear syllables or words
b
: to express clearly
2
: to unite or become united or connected by or as if by a joint
Medical Definition
articulate
1 of 2 adjective
ar·tic·u·late
är-ˈtik-yə-lət
: consisting of segments united by joints : jointed
articulate animals
articulate
2 of 2 verb
ar·tic·u·late
-ˌlāt
articulated; articulating
1
: to utter distinctly
2
: to unite by means of a joint
3
: to arrange (artificial teeth) on an articulator
1
: to utter articulate sounds
2
: to become united or connected by or as if by a joint
bones that articulate with each other
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