First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
declare
verb de·clare \di-ˈkler\
: to say or state (something) in an official or public way
: to say (something) in a strong and confident way
: to tell the government about (money you have earned or received) in order to pay taxes
de·claredde·clar·ing
Full Definition of DECLARE
transitive verb
1
: to make known formally, officially, or explicitly
2
obsolete : to make clear
3
: to make evident : show
4
: to state emphatically : affirm <declares his innocence>
5
: to make a full statement of (one's taxable or dutiable property)
6
a : to announce (as a trump suit) in a card game b : meld
7
: to make payable <declare a dividend>
intransitive verb
1
: to make a declaration
2
: to avow one's opinion or support
3
: to announce one's intentions (as to run for political office) <declared for mayor>
— de·clar·able \-ˈkler-ə-bəl\ adjective
See declare defined for English-language learners
See declare defined for kids
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Origin of DECLARE
Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French declarer, from Latin declarare, from de- + clarare to make visible, from clarus clear — more at clear
Related to DECLARE
Synonym Discussion of DECLARE
declare, announce, proclaim, promulgate mean to make known publicly. declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known <the referee declared the contest a draw>. announce implies the declaration of something for the first time <announced their engagement at a party>. proclaim implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively <the president proclaimed a national day of mourning>. promulgate implies the proclaiming of a dogma, doctrine, or law <promulgated an edict of religious toleration>.
synonyms see in addition assert
Rhymes with DECLARE
affair, aglare, airfare, Ajmer, Altair, antbear, armchair, au pair, aware, bakeware, barware, Basseterre, Baudelaire, beachwear, bergère, beware, bid fair, big hair, black bear, bricklayer, broodmare, brown bear, bugbear, caneware, carfare, Carrère, cave bear, chi-square, clayware, club chair, compare, compere, confrere, cookware, corsair, courseware, creamware, crosshair, cudbear, daymare, dead air, decare, deck chair, delftware, despair, dishware, éclair, elsewhere, ensnare, eyewear, fanfare, fieldfare, firmware, flatware, Flaubert, footwear, forbear, forebear, forswear, foursquare, freeware, funfair, galère, giftware, glassware, Great Bear, groupware, Gruyère, guard hair, hardware, health care, hectare, high chair, horsehair, hot air, impair, infare, Khmer, Kildare, knitwear, life-care, light air, longhair, loungewear, Mayfair, menswear, meunière, midair, mohair, Molière, neckwear, nightmare, no fair, outstare, out-there, outwear, playwear, plein air, plowshare, Poor Clare, Port Blair, portiere, premiere, prepare, pushchair, rainwear, redware, repair, root hair, Sancerre, sea hare, shank's mare, shareware, shorthair, side chair, Sinclair, skiwear, sleepwear, slipware, sloth bear, software, somewhere, spongeware, sportswear, stemware, stoneware, sun bear, swimwear, threadbare, tinware, torchère, trouvère, tuyere, unfair, unhair, unswear, Voltaire, warfare, welfare, wheelchair, wirehair, workfare
DECLARE Defined for Kids
declare
verb de·clare \di-ˈkler\
de·claredde·clar·ing
Definition of DECLARE for Kids
1
: to make known in a clear or formal way <The judges declared the race a tie.>
2
: to state as if certain <“I look and smell,” Aunt Sponge declared, “as lovely as a rose!” — Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach>
Synonym Discussion of DECLARE
declare, announce, and advertise mean to make known to the public. declare is used of something that is said very clearly and often in a formal manner. <The governor declared a policy change.> announce is used when something of interest is declared for the first time. <Scientists announced the discovery of a new planet.> advertise is used when a statement is repeated over and over and all around. <She advertised her grades to the whole class.>
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