PRONOUNCE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does pronounce mean? 

• PRONOUNCE (verb)
  The verb PRONOUNCE has 2 senses:

1. speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way

2. pronounce judgment on

  Familiarity information: PRONOUNCE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PRONOUNCE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they pronounce    ... he / she / it pronounces   
Past simple: pronounced   
Past participle: pronounced   
-ing form: pronouncing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

articulate; enounce; enunciate; pronounce; say; sound out

Context example:

Can the child sound out this complicated word?

"Pronounce" entails doing...:

mouth; speak; talk; utter; verbalise; verbalize (express in speech)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pronounce"):

syllabise; syllabize (utter with distinct articulation of each syllable)

roll (pronounce with a roll, of the phoneme /r/)

drawl (lengthen and slow down or draw out)

labialise; labialize; round (pronounce with rounded lips)

lisp (speak with a lisp)

accent; accentuate; stress (put stress on; utter with an accent)

vocalise; vocalize; vowelise; vowelize (pronounce as a vowel)

click (produce a click)

trill (pronounce with a trill, of the phoneme 'r')

sibilate (pronounce with an initial sibilant)

flap (pronounce with a flap, of alveolar sounds)

explode (cause to burst as a result of air pressure; of stop consonants like /p/, /t/, and /k/)

subvocalise; subvocalize (articulate without making audible sounds)

retroflex (articulate (a consonant) with the tongue curled back against the palate)

sound; vocalise; vocalize; voice (utter with vibrating vocal chords)

aspirate (pronounce with aspiration; of stop sounds)

mispronounce; misspeak (pronounce a word incorrectly)

nasalise; nasalize (speak nasally or through the nose)

nasalise; nasalize (pronounce with a lowered velum)

palatalise; palatalize (pronounce a consonant with the tongue against the palate)

lilt (articulate in a very careful and rhythmic way)

raise (pronounce (vowels) by bringing the tongue closer to the roof of the mouth)

devoice (utter with tense vocal chords)

twang (pronounce with a nasal twang)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

pronunciation (the way a word or a language is customarily spoken)

pronunciation (the manner in which someone utters a word)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Pronounce judgment on

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

judge; label; pronounce

Context example:

They labeled him unfit to work here

Hypernyms (to "pronounce" is one way to...):

adjudge; declare; hold (declare to be)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "pronounce"):

convict (find or declare guilty)

tout (advertize in strongly positive terms)

find; rule (decide on and make a declaration about)

qualify (pronounce fit or able)

disqualify (declare unfit)

intonate; intone (speak carefully, as with rising and falling pitch or in a particular tone)

acquit; assoil; clear; discharge; exculpate; exonerate (pronounce not guilty of criminal charges)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s something Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s somebody something

Derivation:

pronouncement (an authoritative declaration)

 Context examples 

You have furnished me with seven, but, of course, I must test them before I can pronounce upon their value.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I only remind you of your own words, sir: you said error brought remorse, and you pronounced remorse the poison of existence.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Parabens were found in all the products studied—in particular ethylparaben, followed by methylparaben—but in average concentrations lower than those of bisphenol A and with less pronounced differences between store type.

(Nine out of ten pairs of baby socks on the market contain traces of bisphenol A and parabens, University of Granada)

The researchers believe Ceres once had more pronounced surface features, but they have smoothed out over time.

(Dawn Finds Possible Ancient Ocean Remnants at Ceres, NASA)

Emma blushed, and forbade its being pronounced in her hearing.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

She was looked at, however, and with some admiration; for, in her own hearing, two gentlemen pronounced her to be a pretty girl.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

A pyridine derivate histamine H1 antagonist with pronounced sedative properties.

(Doxylamine Succinate, NCI Thesaurus)

In the plasma cell type there is pronounced plasma cell proliferation.

(Angiofollicular Lymphoid Hyperplasia, NCI Thesaurus)

"Well," said he, at last, "we've gone and done it, young fellah my lad." (This curious phrase he pronounced as if it were all one word—"young-fellah-me-lad.")

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Each put on one nice light glove, and carried one soiled one, and all pronounced the effect "quite easy and fine".

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)