pronounce

verb

pro·​nounce prə-ˈnau̇n(t)s 

pronounced; pronouncing

transitive verb

1

: to declare officially or ceremoniously

the minister pronounced them husband and wife

2

: to declare authoritatively or as an opinion

doctors pronounced him fit to resume duties

3

a

: to employ the organs of speech to produce

pronounce these words

especially : to say correctly

I can't pronounce his name

b

: to represent in printed characters the spoken counterpart of (an orthographic representation)

both dictionaries pronounce clique the same

4

: recite

speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you

—William Shakespeare

intransitive verb

1

: to pass judgment

2

: to produce the components of spoken language

pronounceability

prə-ˌnau̇n(t)-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

pronounceable

prə-ˈnau̇n(t)-sə-bəl 

adjective

pronouncer noun

Examples of pronounce in a Sentence

She practices pronouncing foreign words.

I'm sorry. I can't pronounce your name.

The priest pronounced a blessing on their home.

The doctors pronounced him fit to go back to work.

He was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Many senators are pronouncing in favor of the bill.

The judge pronounced for the defendant.

Recent Examples on the Web

Reed was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead, according to COPA. —Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2024

Resuscitative efforts were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead at 9:06p.m. —Stephen Smith, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024

Jamison was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. —Erin Couch, The Enquirer, 8 Apr. 2024

Medical personnel attempted to treat the nephew, identified by police as 40-year-old James Wolfe II, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. —Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024

The 53-year-old driver was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at the scene. —Journal Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2024

Someone took Brown to Regions Hospital in a private vehicle and he was pronounced dead soon after, police said. —Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2024

Rojas was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. —Louis Casiano, Fox News, 3 Apr. 2024

Deputies Carlson and Del Toro fired their weapons at Decker, who was taken to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, where he was pronounced dead, the Idaho Statesman previously reported. —Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 30 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French pronuncier, from Latin pronuntiare, from pro- forth + nuntiare to report, from nuntius messenger — more at pro-

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing pronounce

• pronounce sentence

Kids Definition

pronounce

verb

pro·​nounce prə-ˈnau̇n(t)s 

pronounced; pronouncing

1

: to state in an official or solemn way

I pronounce you husband and wife

the judge pronounced sentence

2

: to give as an opinion

pronounced the party a success

3

a

: to use the voice to make the sounds of

practice pronouncing foreign words

b

: to say or speak correctly

I can't pronounce your name

pronouncer noun