pronounce
verb
pro·nounce
prə-ˈnau̇n(t)s 
pronounced; pronouncing
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
William Shakespeare
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
To begin, the nature of the demographic shift is pronounced.
—Frank Lavin, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
The two women -- a 72-year-old and a 32-year-old -- were pronounced dead at the scene, and the two men were transported to the hospital.
—ABC News, 13 July 2025
Paramedics administered advanced cardiac life support on the child and rushed her to the hospital, where a doctor worked another half hour before pronouncing her dead around 12:30 p.m.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
The 63-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
—Daily Briefing, AZCentral.com, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pronounce
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Frank Lavin, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
The two women -- a 72-year-old and a 32-year-old -- were pronounced dead at the scene, and the two men were transported to the hospital.
—ABC News, 13 July 2025
Paramedics administered advanced cardiac life support on the child and rushed her to the hospital, where a doctor worked another half hour before pronouncing her dead around 12:30 p.m.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
The 63-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
—Daily Briefing, AZCentral.com, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pronounce
Cite this Entry
“Pronounce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pronounce. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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