utter
UH-tuh
Utter (adjective) means Complete and total; absolute. Example: “The meeting was an utter waste of time.”
adjective
1
Complete and total; absolute.
"The meeting was an utter waste of time."
"She looked at him in utter disbelief."
"The kitchen was in utter chaos when the guests arrived."
verb
1
To say something out loud; to produce a sound or word with the voice.
"He didn't utter a single word during the meeting."
"The baby uttered a soft cry."
"The witness could barely utter her name before she burst into tears."
How to use utter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "complete/total" (utter nonsense) or "to speak/say" (to utter a word).
Common pairings
utter nonsense
utter disbelief
utter a word
not utter a sound
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- utters
- Past tense
- uttered
- Comparative
- uttermore
- Superlative
- utmost, uttermost
- Archaic forms
- utterest, utteredst, uttereth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The meeting was an _____ waste of time.
Etymology
The adjective comes from Old English utera ("outer"). The verb developed separately, meaning to "put out" words.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for utter
See all rhymes for utter →Frequently asked questions
What does “utter” mean?
The word “utter” means complete and total; absolute. In plain terms, either "complete/total" (utter nonsense) or "to speak/say" (to utter a word).
How do you pronounce “utter”?
“Utter” is pronounced UH-tuh (/ˈʌtəɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “utter” in a sentence?
Here is “utter” used in a sentence: “The meeting was an utter waste of time.”
What is another word for “utter”?
Words with a similar meaning to “utter” include say and vocalize.
What part of speech is “utter”?
Depending on how it is used, “utter” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “utter” come from?
The word “utter” comes from Old English. The adjective comes from Old English utera ("outer"). The verb developed separately, meaning to "put out" words.
Is “utter” a common word?
“Utter” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “utter” have?
“Utter” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: complete and total; absolute.
What is the difference between "utter" and "say"?
As a verb, "utter" means to produce a sound or word with the voice, and it can describe even a single sound, cry, or word, while "say" more commonly refers to speaking coherent words or sentences. "Utter" is somewhat more formal or literary than "say."
Why is "utter" used before nouns like "nonsense" or "silence"?
As an adjective, "utter" means complete and total, so phrases like "utter nonsense" or "utter silence" emphasize that something is absolute, with no exception or qualification.
Can "utter" be both an adjective and a verb?
Yes, "utter" functions as an adjective meaning complete and total ("utter chaos") and as a verb meaning to speak or make a vocal sound ("she didn't utter a word"). The two uses are related but grammatically distinct.
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