Pronounce Meaning
/pɹəˈnaʊns/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo declare formally, officially or ceremoniously.
verbTo declare authoritatively, or as a formal expert opinion.
Sentence Examples
How do you pronounce "pronounce"?
I pronounce this a perfect dinner.
It is difficult for me to pronounce the word.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The teacher asked the student to ____ the difficult word 'February' loudly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The judge rose to ____ the verdict after the jury had deliberated for three days.
Word Origin & History
Recorded since c.1330 as Middle English pronouncen (“to utter, declare officially”), from Old French prononcier, from Latin prōnūntiō, itself from prō- (“forth, out, in public”) + nūntiō (“to announce”) from nūntius (“messenger”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, […], down the nave to the western door. […] At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer."
— 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
"See there! A son is born
And we pronounce him fit to fight
There are blackheads on his shoulders
And he pees himself in the night."
— 1972, “Thick As A Brick”, Ian Anderson (lyrics), performed by Jethro Tull:
"“If any pupil considers it acceptable to bring a pet into this school, let me tell you it is forbidden. Strictly forbidden!” pronounced the headmaster from the front of the class."
— 2012, David Walliams [pseudonym; David Edward Williams], Ratburger, London: HarperCollins Children’s Books, →ISBN:
"Paramedics attended, but he was pronounced dead at the scene."
— 2020 December 16, Paul Clifton, “Investigation begins after death at Eastleigh depot”, in Rail, page 12:
"They spell it "Vinci" and pronounce it "Vinchy". Foreigners always spell better than they pronounce."
— 1869, Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad, page 182:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The teacher asked the student to ____ the difficult word 'February' loudly.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The judge rose to ____ the verdict after the jury had deliberated for three days.