vocalize

verb

vo·​cal·​ize ˈvō-kə-ˌlīz 

vocalized; vocalizing

transitive verb

1

: to give voice to : utter

specifically : sing

2

a

: to make voiced rather than voiceless : voice

b

: to convert to a vowel

3

: to furnish (something, such as a consonantal Hebrew or Arabic text) with vowels or vowel points

intransitive verb

1

: to utter vocal sounds

2

: sing

specifically : to sing without words

vocalization

ˌvō-kə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

vocalizer

ˈvō-kə-ˌlī-zər 

noun

Synonyms

• say
• utter
• tell
• talk
• speak
• discuss
• share
• verbalize

Examples of vocalize in a Sentence

The male bird vocalizes to attract a mate.

she's not one to vocalize her worries

Recent Examples on the Web

Seattle Storm star Gabby Williams vocalized her frustration on the matter to reporters on Friday afternoon. —Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 19 July 2025

During the Heat’s NBA Draft party on Wednesday at Kaseya Center during the first round, former Heat All-Star center and current Heat executive Alonzo Mourning vocalized the organization’s belief in Ware as part of an interview on WQAM 560. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 26 June 2025

Barking is still a natural behavior for deaf dogs, and while the tone or volume may differ, their need to vocalize remains. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025

Unlike most video game music, Woodkid’s tracks aren’t just ambience, but fully vocalized songs with lyrics. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 13 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1669, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for vocalize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

vocalize

verb

vo·​cal·​ize ˈvō-kə-ˌlīz 

vocalized; vocalizing

: to give voice to

especially : sing entry 1 sense 1a

vocalizer

ˈvō-kə-ˌlī-zər 

noun