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 of vocalize

• 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

To vocalize the belief that the lawsuit was partisan politics instead of concerned citizens speaking up, is very disheartening. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2026

Nearly all on the council members vocalized their beliefs that the city should not be in the business of owning and operating a homeless shelter. —Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026

So Hopper’s speech to Eleven is vocalizing what a lot of people in the room were saying. —Kate Aurthur, Variety, 2 Jan. 2026

Despite years of industry leaders vocalizing a need for greater diversity in executive suites and decision-making roles, and the chronic inequity remaining a punchline for award show jokes, the climate has changed. —Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026

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