declare

de·clare | \ di-ˈkler

declared; declaring

Definition of declare

1a : to make known formally, officially, or explicitly publicly declared her opposition to the plan

b : 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

Other Words from declare Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about declare

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Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web The six-count complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, asks the court to declare DeVos’s rule and guidance as unlawful. — Scott Mcclallen, Washington Examiner, "Michigan and four states sue Betsy DeVos over federal school aid rule," 8 July 2020 America was the first country to declare an ADIZ, in 1950. — The Economist, "Identify yourself China’s next move in the South China Sea," 18 June 2020 Corporations can’t declare their solidarity with Black communities while fueling surveillance programs that are harming us. — Tawana Petty, Wired, "Defending Black Lives Means Banning Facial Recognition," 10 July 2020 People are quick to declare that Snopes is fake news and that fact checks are an attempt to censor people. — Jennifer Wright, refinery29.com, "America Has Always Been A Nation Of Conspiracy Theories — But It’s Worse Than Ever," 29 June 2020 Trump did not declare a national emergency until March 13. — NBC News, "Florida, Arizona and Texas set records for new COVID-19 cases," 17 June 2020 In the weeks before the 2008 election, various rumors circulated online that Bush would declare martial law to prevent Barack Obama’s victory. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "Fear of a Forever-Trump Administration," 9 July 2020 Foreign executives contemplate a kaleidoscope of risk scenarios: Must my firm publicly declare support for the security law? — Grady Mcgregor, Fortune, "A hotel-turned-security office signals Hong Kong’s big chill," 9 July 2020 Under law, the mayor can declare a state of emergency for 135 days — meaning the current emergency would end July 24. — Washington Post, "D.C. Council raises gas and other taxes, rejects tax increase on wealthy, during first budget vote," 8 July 2020

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.

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Last Updated

7 Aug 2020

Cite this Entry

“Declare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/declare. Accessed 8 Aug. 2020.

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More Definitions for declare

declare

verb

English Language Learners Definition of declare

: 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

See the full definition for declare in the English Language Learners Dictionary

declare

verb

de·clare | \ di-ˈkler

declared; declaring

Kids Definition of declare

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

Choose the Right Synonym for declare

declare, announce, and advertise mean to make known to the public. declare is used of something that is said very clearly and often in a formal manner. The governor declared a policy change. announce is used when something of interest is declared for the first time. Scientists announced the discovery of a new planet. advertise is used when a statement is repeated over and over and all around. She advertised her grades to the whole class.