proclaim

/pɹəˈkleɪm/ formal

Say it: pruh-KLAYM

1. verb To announce something officially, publicly, or with great ceremony.
The government proclaimed a state of emergency after the earthquake.
2. verb To show or indicate something clearly and unmistakably, as if by announcement.
The quality of the craftsmanship proclaims it to be the work of a master.

📖 Seen in the wild

The king will proclaim a new holiday to celebrate the victory.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ proclaim in a sentence

The newly crowned queen proclaimed a week of celebration throughout the kingdom.
He stood on the table to proclaim his undying love for her in front of the entire restaurant.
The document proclaims the rights of all citizens to free speech.
The ruins of the ancient city proclaim the power of a once-great empire.
The company's press release proclaimed a record-breaking quarter for sales.
She proudly proclaimed herself a fan of the losing team.
His confident stride and steady gaze proclaimed him a man in charge.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

declare announce promulgate herald broadcast state affirm assert

declare · often used for more personal or formal statements of fact or intent.

announce · typically involves making new information known for the first time.

promulgate · a more technical term, usually for making laws or doctrines officially known.

herald · suggests announcing something that is about to happen.

Opposites: conceal, suppress, withhold, hide, recant

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'proclaim' marched into English from Old French, but its roots are in Latin. It combines 'pro-', meaning 'forth' or 'out', with 'clamare', meaning 'to cry out'. So, to proclaim something is, quite literally, to shout it forth for all to hear.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

proclaim victoryproclaim a state of emergencypublicly proclaimboldly proclaimproclaim someone king

'Proclaim' carries a weight of authority, ceremony, or deep conviction that 'announce' or 'state' lack. It is best reserved for significant public declarations, like proclaiming a winner or a new law. Using it for everyday announcements, like proclaiming you're going to the store, can sound overly dramatic or sarcastic. It is almost always public, whereas 'declare' can be a private statement of intent or feeling.

Word family: proclamation, proclaimer

💬 Quick answers

What does 'proclaim' mean?

To proclaim something is to announce it officially or publicly, often with a sense of importance, authority, or ceremony.

What is the difference between 'proclaim' and 'announce'?

'Proclaim' is stronger, more formal, and suggests a declaration of great significance. 'Announce' is more neutral and common, used for simply making new information known.

Is 'proclaim' a formal word?

Yes, 'proclaim' is a formal word. It is most appropriate in official, historical, or literary contexts, or when you want to give a statement a sense of weight and importance.

What is a 'proclamation'?

A proclamation is the noun form of proclaim. It is an official public announcement, such as the Emancipation Proclamation.

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