articulate

adjective

ar·tic·u·late | \är-ˈti-kyə-lət

Definition of articulate

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

2a : consisting of segments united by joints : jointed articulate animals

b : distinctly marked off an articulate period in history

articulate

verb

ar·tic·u·late | \är-ˈti-kyə-ˌlāt

articulated; articulating

Definition of articulate (Entry 2 of 2)

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 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

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

2a : 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

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.

Other Words from articulate Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about articulate

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Other Words from articulate

Adjective

articulately adverb

articulateness noun

Verb

articulative \-lə-tiv,

-ˌlā- \ adjective

articulator \-ˌlā-tər

\ noun

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 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.

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: Adjective

Vital, among the most engaging and articulate UConn basketball players, always has a lot to say, both in conversation and body language. — Mike Anthony, courant.com, "Mike Anthony: Christian Vital's Fire Can Fuel Or Burn UConn," 17 June 2018 Carole Radziwill has two types of fans: Those who know her as a cool, unusually articulate Bravo star, and those, often of a different generation, who know her as the three-time Emmy, Peabody award-winning journalist and best-selling author. — refinery29.com, "Carole Radziwill Doesn't Care If She's Your Favorite Real Housewife," 11 June 2018 The judge in charge, a firm, no-nonsense woman (Saadia Bentaieb), sits on one side of a table, faced by Antoine (Denis Ménochet) and Miriam (Léa Drucker) and their articulate, dueling attorneys. — Kenneth Turan, latimes.com, "Review: Searing French drama 'Custody' is an unforgettable experience," 10 July 2018 Of all the major entertainment awards shows, the Tonys consistently delivers the most articulate speeches, and 2018 was no exception. — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "The 72nd Annual Tony Awards: TV Review," 11 June 2018 Brad Keselowski, often one of the most articulate spokesmen about racing’s big issues, plants himself firmly in that category. — Mike Hembree, USA TODAY, "NASCAR's conundrum: Cup Drivers want speed, fans clamor for excitement," 10 June 2018 From his fleet footwork to his impassioned characterizations, John Lam is one of Boston Ballet’s most articulate and expressive male dancers. — Karen Campbell, BostonGlobe.com, "Boston Ballet’s John Lam is set to soar in dances from Balanchine to Bournonville," 10 May 2018 The foppish Johnson — an articulate campaigner — helped lead Brexit forces to victory in the June 2016 referendum that effectively ended Cameron’s career and set in motion more than two years of tortuous negotiations with the EU. — Gregory Katz, The Seattle Times, "Out as UK foreign secretary: One more twist in Boris saga," 9 July 2018 Alejandro is from Venezuela, by the way – before seamlessly affecting Josh’s articulate language. — Scott Bordow, azcentral, "'Joyful' Deandre Ayton offers personality, 'monster' skills for Suns at No. 1," 17 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Families are more likely to buy into services if staff members clearly articulate the steps that can be taken to help a child. — Evan Macdonald, cleveland.com, "Cuyahoga County looks to Dayton as model for rehabilitating youth, reducing juvenile crime," 12 Feb. 2018 But the positions articulated by the two on issues ranging from trade and military spending to climate change and migration have remained far apart. — Washington Post, "Friend or foe at NATO? Who knows when Trump comes to dinner," 10 July 2018 But the positions articulated by the two on issues ranging from trade and military spending to climate change and migration have remained far apart. — Raf Casert, Fox News, "Friend or foe at NATO? Who knows when Trump comes to dinner," 10 July 2018 The policy, as originally articulated by Attrorney Genral Jeff Sessions, was viewed as a tool to discourage people coming up from dysfunctional countries in Central America to seek asylum at the U.S. border with Mexico. — Doug Stanglin, USA TODAY, "House Dems: Conditions for kids at border center are 'cruel and inhumane'," 23 June 2018 One study found that these groups can be useful places for people to articulate their illnesses, sometimes for the first time. — Louise Matsakis, WIRED, "How Pro-Eating Disorder Posts Evade Filters on Social Media," 13 June 2018 As a result, Abe wants his goal articulated to Kim by Trump. — NBC News, "Japanese citizens simply vanished. North Korea had abducted them. But why?," 11 June 2018 But nothing in the doctrine articulated by Patterson and his allies provides Biblical justification for counseling a rape victim against going to the police, or for banning women from teaching theology. — Sarah Jones, The New Republic, "The Religious Right’s #MeToo Reckoning Is Coming," 30 May 2018 Hinton and Lipsyte clearly were writing a new kind of novel for young adults—one of unsparing contemporary realism that met a need articulated by Hinton herself in a passionate article in The New York Times Book Review published on August 27, 1967. — Michael Cart, Smithsonian, "How “Young Adult” Fiction Blossomed With Teenage Culture in America," 7 May 2018

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.