declare

play

verb de·clare \di-ˈkler\

Definition of declare

declared

;

declaring

transitive verb
1a : to make known formally, officially, or explicitly publicly declared her opposition to the planb : to make known as a determination The judge declared the defendant fit to stand trial. She was declared the rightful heir to the throne.
2 obsolete : to make clear
3 : to make evident : show a glimpse of his head in outline … declared his present state of mind — Osbert Sitwell
4 : to state emphatically : affirm declares his innocence “You are quite a quiz, I do declare!” — Charles Dickens
5 : to make a full statement of (one's taxable or dutiable property) Large purchases must be declared at customs.
6 in card games a : to make a bid or announcement naming (a trump suit or no-trump)b : meld
7 : to make payable declare a dividend
intransitive verb
1 : to make a declaration poetry … evokes rather than merely declares — C. S. Kilby
2 : to avow one's opinion or support declaring for or against a candidate
3 : to announce one's intentions (as to run for political office) declared for mayor

declarable

play \-ˈkler-ə-bəl\ adjective

See declare defined for English-language learners

See declare defined for kids

Examples of declare in a Sentence

The government has just declared a state of emergency.
He openly declared his love for her.
They failed to declare all of their earnings on their tax return.
Large purchases must be declared at customs.
Do you have anything to declare?

Recent Examples of declare from the Web

But the Facebook account for BiNorth Collection, which is claiming to sell the ensemble, has declared that the outfit is in fact blue and grey.

— sophie hirsh, Teen Vogue, "Nike Outfit Goes Viral as the New Dress Debate", 6 July 2017
Christie had been pushing his anti-drug addiction message for years – including during his unsuccessful presidential campaign – declaring the war on drugs a failure.

— andrew seidman, Philly.com, "How health-insurer debate ground Christie's Trenton to a halt", 1 July 2017
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey plans to visit the area Thursday after declaring a state of emergency in Yavapai County that directs $200,000 in emergency funds to fire suppression efforts and reimbursements for emergency response and recovery costs.

— matt york and astrid galvan, chicagotribune.com, "Some evacuations lifted as Arizona blaze improves after thousands fled wildfire flames", 29 June 2017
The business of quitting the European Union got seriously complicated when Theresa May declared that Brexit meant ending the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

— simon nixon, WSJ, "How Red Is Theresa May’s Red Line?", 28 June 2017
Miami-Dade’s Inspector General issued a report this week addressing some of the most explosive allegations against the county’s Animal Services Department and declared them unfounded.

— douglas hanks, miamiherald, "Miami-Dade’s animal shelter did not burn dogs alive. Probe dismisses conspiracy theories.", 28 June 2017
The Lake County Coroner's Office declared Walden dead at 11:45 p.m., ruling his death a homicide.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "East Chicago police seek tips in shooting that left 1 dead, 1 injured", 27 June 2017
International courts have declared the killings a genocide.

— sewell chan, New York Times, "Netherlands Partly Liable for 1995 Massacre of Bosnian Muslim Men, Court Rules", 27 June 2017
In the year since Whole Woman’s Health declared that Texas’s law created undue burden on those seeking abortion care, access to abortion and reproductive health care has remained under assault across the country.

— caitlin cruz, Glamour, "Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt", 27 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'declare'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of declare

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French declarer, from Latin declarare, from de- + clarare to make visible, from clarus clear — more at clear

NEW!

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of declare

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

synonyms see in addition assert

DECLARE Defined for English Language Learners

declare

play

verb

Definition of declare for English Language Learners

: to say or state (something) in an official or public way
: to say (something) in a strong and confident way
: to tell the government about (money you have earned or received) in order to pay taxes

DECLARE Defined for Kids

declare

play

verb de·clare \di-ˈkler\

Definition of declare for Students

declared

;

declaring

1 : to make known in a clear or formal way The judges declared the race a tie.
2 : to state as if certain “I look and smell,” Aunt Sponge declared, “as lovely as a rose!” — Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach

Law Dictionary

declare

transitive verb de·clare

Legal Definition of declare

declared

declaring

1 : to make known formally, officially, or explicitly declaring who shall then act as President — U.S. Constitution amend. XX
2a : to make a full statement of (one's taxable property) didn't declare some of his income b : to state the value of (one's taxable or dutiable property) declared the diamond earrings
3 : to make payable declare dividends