WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
de•clare /dɪˈklɛr/USA pronunciation
v., -clared, -clar•ing.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to make known;
state clearly: [ ~ + obj]:He declared his innocence to everyone who would listen.[ ~ + (that) clause]:declared that the city was unsafe.[used with quotations]:"I saw the defendant at the scene of the crime,'' he declared. - to announce or state officially;
proclaim: [ ~ + obj]:to declare a state of emergency.[ ~ + obj + obj]:The officials declared her the winner of the high jump.[ ~ + obj + adj]:My client was declared innocent.[used with quotations]:He declared, "I'm innocent!'' - [ ~ + obj] to reveal;
indicate:Their appearance at the meeting declares their willingness to participate in the talks. - [ ~ + obj] to make a statement of (goods being brought into a country, income for taxation, etc.):You have to declare your earnings for the whole year.
de•clare
(di klâr′),USA pronunciation v., -clared, -clar•ing.
v.t.
v.i.
de•clar′a•ble, adj.
v.t.
- to make known or state clearly, esp. in explicit or formal terms:to declare one's position in a controversy.
- to announce officially;
proclaim:to declare a state of emergency; to declare a winner. - to state emphatically:He declared that the allegation was a lie.
- to manifest;
reveal;
show:Her attendance at the rally declared her political allegiance. - to make due statement of, esp. goods for duty or income for taxation.
- to make (a dividend) payable.
- Games[Bridge.]to bid (a trump suit or no-trump).
v.i.
- to make a declaration.
- to proclaim oneself (usually fol. by for or against):He declared against the proposal.
- Sport[Cricket.](of a team) to surrender a turn at bat in an innings before ten players are put out.
- Latin dēclārāre to explain, equivalent. to dē- de- + clārāre to make clear (clār(us) clear + -āre infinitive suffix)
- Middle English declaren 1275–1325
- 3. aver, asseverate, state. Declare, affirm, assert, protest imply making something known emphatically, openly, or formally. To declare is to make known, sometimes in the face of actual or potential contradiction:to declare someone the winner of a contest.To affirm is to make a statement based on one's reputation for knowledge or veracity, or so related to a generally recognized truth that denial is not likely:to affirm the necessity of high standards.To assert is to state boldly, usually without other proof than personal authority or conviction:to assert that the climate is changing.To protest is to affirm publicly, as if in the face of doubt:to protest that a newspaper account is misleading. 4. disclose, publish.
- 3. deny.