proclaim

verb

pro·​claim prō-ˈklām 

prə-

proclaimed; proclaiming; proclaims

transitive verb

1

a

: to declare publicly, typically insistently, proudly, or defiantly and in either speech or writing : announce

b

: to give outward indication of : show

his manner proclaimed his genteel upbringing

2

: to declare or declare to be solemnly, officially, or formally

proclaim an amnesty

proclaim the country a republic

3

: to praise or glorify openly or publicly : extol

proclaimed the rescue workers' efforts

proclaimer noun

Did you know?

The pro- in proclaim means "forward, out", so a proclamation is an "outward" statement intended for the public. We often think of proclamations as something issued by monarchs or dictators, but Lincoln was able to issue his Emancipation Proclamation because as president he had the power to free the slaves in certain areas. At a slightly lower level, a governor may proclaim a day in honor of the state's firemen, a movie critic may proclaim a director to be the best of all, or you may proclaim your New Year's resolutions to a crowd of friends.

Synonyms

• advertise
• announce
• annunciate
• blare
• blaze
• blazon
• broadcast
• declare
• enunciate
• flash
• give out
• herald
• placard
• post
• promulgate
• publicize
• publish
• release
• sound
• trumpet

Choose the Right Synonym for proclaim

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

Examples of proclaim in a Sentence

She proclaimed that she will run for governor.

The President proclaimed a national day of mourning.

He took command of the government and proclaimed himself emperor.

The magazine proclaimed him to be the best player in baseball.

He proclaimed his love for her in a poem.

His behavior proclaimed his good upbringing.

Recent Examples on the Web

Dolly’s announcement proclaimed on the show’s website. —Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 2 May 2025

On May 8, 1914, Congress passed a law declaring the second Sunday of May as Mother’s Day and the next day President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the official holiday, proclaiming it also as a holiday to honor mothers whose sons had died in war. —Rebecca Schneid, Time, 2 May 2025

Deborah seemingly has the power to heal through touch and proclaims the coming of a new Messiah, a Black woman. —Nate Zipp, Christian Science Monitor, 1 May 2025

Since April 19, when Putin proclaimed the temporary Easter ceasefire, Russian attacks have killed at least 62 civilians and injured another 290 in Ukraine, according to a CNN tally of figures from local authorities and emergency services. —Darya Tarasova, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English proclamen, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French proclamer, from Latin proclamare, from pro- before + clamare to cry out — more at pro-, claim

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for proclaim

• acclaim
• aflame
• airframe
• ballgame
• became
• declaim
• defame
• disclaim
• doorframe
• exclaim
• inflame
• mainframe

Kids Definition

proclaim

verb

pro·​claim prō-ˈklām 

1

: to announce publicly

proclaimed his innocence

2

: to declare formally

proclaim a holiday

proclaimer noun

Legal Definition

proclaim

transitive verb

pro·​claim prō-ˈklām 

: to declare or declare to be solemnly, officially, or formally

proclaim an amnesty