Definition of articulate
1a : expressing oneself readily, clearly, and effectively an articulate teacher; also : expressed in such a manner an articulate argumentb : divided into syllables or words meaningfully arranged : intelligible an articulate cry/utterancec : able to speak So furious was he that he was hardly articulate … — Arthur Conan Doyle
2a : consisting of segments united by joints : jointed articulate animalsb : distinctly marked off an articulate period in history
articulately
adverbarticulateness
nounIndulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Examples of articulate in a Sentence
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
The engaging and articulate Bol makes campers realize how fortunate they are to have the freedoms enjoyed in America, and he emphasizes the importance of capitalizing on their opportunities to get the most out of life. —Chris Broussard, New York Times, 4 Aug. 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.
Recent Examples of articulate from the Web
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In Drive-By Truckers, which was and remains Southern rock at its most articulate, Isbell's songs and soulful voice complemented the contributions of other members.
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He is said to be articulate, a deep thinker, the kind of kid who looks you in the eye and remains fully engaged during conversation.
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Ms. Booth, as the most articulate and self-aware of the four, beautifully demonstrates the harsh limits of such intelligence.
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One is the immortality of entitlements that especially benefit those among society’s articulate upper reaches who feel entitled.
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Gianforte: an articulate millionaire and tech entrepreneur who sold his company RightNow Technologies to Oracle in 2012 for $1.8 billion.
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Sandler’s Danny is transparent, almost in defiance of Baumbach’s acute need to be articulate every minute.
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Both of them come across as articulate and feeling people and carry a scene which otherwise offers little information.
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The current FBI Director is an articulate and persuasive speaker about leadership and the immutable principles of the Department of Justice.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'articulate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of articulate
Latin articulatus jointed, past participle of articulare, from articulus —see 1article
Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms
Definition of articulate
articulated
;articulating
transitive verb
1a : 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 phrasec : to give definition to (something, such as a shape or object) Eight shades of gray were chosen to articulate different spaces. — Carol Vogeld : 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
2a : to unite by or as if by means of a joint : jointb : to form or fit into a systematic whole articulating a program for all school grades
intransitive verb
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
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 of articulate from the Web
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Erven Santa Monica, $$ A few blocks from the Santa Monica Pier, this marketplace and restaurant articulates something fresh about vegan cuisine.
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The federal debt has largely faded from the American political debate: In the 2016 campaign, both candidates articulated policies that would have increased America’s revenue and spending problem.
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A new CTA study notes that the Blue Line's frequency and crowding issues could be addressed by expanding the line's Forest Park rail yard so that there are more trains to work with, as well as adding higher-capacity articulated rail cars.
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The plan also retools the NOPD's classification system for patrol officers, better articulating the duties of particular classifications and creating a more meaningful, attainable career path for patrol officers.
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In its study of interpersonal rivalry and sexual tension, the film doesn't say anything that wasn't better articulated in Don Siegel's 1971 adaptation of the same source material, a 1966 novel by Thomas Cullinan.
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This HuffPost article just articulated how all of us are feeling right now.
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But Hoffman said the team also relied on the principle of harm articulated by John Stuart Mill, a 19th-century English political philosopher.
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Fully sounded, cleanly articulated, Mendelssohn’s splendor was captured with aplomb by the musicians.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'articulate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of articulate
see 1articulate
ARTICULATE Defined for English Language Learners
articulate
playDefinition of articulate for English Language Learners
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: able to express ideas clearly and effectively in speech or writing
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: clearly expressed and easily understood
articulate
playDefinition of articulate for English Language Learners
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: to express (something, such as an idea) in words
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: to say or pronounce (something, such as a word) in a way that can be clearly heard and understood
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: to connect with a joint or something that is like a joint
ARTICULATE Defined for Kids
Definition of articulate for Students
1 : clearly understandable an articulate essay
2 : able to express oneself clearly and well an articulate speaker
articulately
adverbDefinition of articulate for Students
articulated
;articulating
: to speak or pronounce clearly Be sure to articulate your words.
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of articulate
articulated
;articulating
1
transitive verb
: to utter distinctly2: to unite by means of a joint
3: to arrange (artificial teeth) on an articulator
1
intransitive verb
: to utter articulate sounds2: to become united or connected by or as if by a joint bones that articulate with each other
Learn More about articulate
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See words that rhyme with articulate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for articulate Spanish Central: Translation of articulate Nglish: Translation of articulate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of articulate for Arabic speakers
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