proclaim
proh-KLAYM
Proclaim (verb) means to announce something publicly and formally. Example: “The king proclaimed a national holiday.”
verb
1
To announce something publicly and formally.
"You have seen it for yourselves in the play by Aristophanes, where Socrates goes whirling round, proclaiming that he is walking on air, and uttering a great deal of other nonsense about things of which I know nothing whatsoever."
— Plato, Socrates on Trial: The Apology (1954)
"The king proclaimed a national holiday."
"She proudly proclaimed herself the winner."
How to use proclaim
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo announce something openly and with authority or confidence.
Common pairings
proclaim independence
proclaim victory
proclaim a holiday
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- proclaims
- Past tense
- proclaimed
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The king _____ a national holiday.
Etymology
From Latin prōclāmō, "to shout forth," from prō- ("forth") + clāmō ("to shout"); its spelling was later reshaped by the related word claim.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for proclaim
See all rhymes for proclaim →Frequently asked questions
What does “proclaim” mean?
The word “proclaim” means to announce something publicly and formally. In plain terms, to announce something openly and with authority or confidence.
How do you pronounce “proclaim”?
“Proclaim” is pronounced proh-KLAYM (/pɹoʊˈkleɪm/ in IPA).
How do you use “proclaim” in a sentence?
Here is “proclaim” used in a sentence: “The king proclaimed a national holiday.”
What is another word for “proclaim”?
Words with a similar meaning to “proclaim” include make known.
What part of speech is “proclaim”?
“Proclaim” is a verb.
Where does the word “proclaim” come from?
The word “proclaim” comes from Latin. From Latin prōclāmō, "to shout forth," from prō- ("forth") + clāmō ("to shout"); its spelling was later reshaped by the related word claim.
Is “proclaim” a common word?
“Proclaim” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
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