Library / English Dictionary

PROCLAIM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Praise, glorify, or honor

Example:

glorify one's spouse's cooking

Synonyms:

exalt; extol; glorify; laud; proclaim

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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

praise (express approval of)

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

canonise; canonize (treat as a sacred person)

ensky (exalt to the skies; lift to the skies or to heaven with praise)

crack up (rhapsodize about)

hymn (praise by singing a hymn)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

State or announce

Example:

The King will proclaim an amnesty

Synonyms:

exclaim; proclaim; promulgate

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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

declare (state emphatically and authoritatively)

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

declare (proclaim one's support, sympathy, or opinion for or against)

trumpet (proclaim on, or as if on, a trumpet)

clarion (proclaim on, or as if on, a clarion)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sentence example:

They proclaim that there was a traffic accident

Derivation:

proclamation (the formal act of proclaiming; giving public notice)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Declare formally; declare someone to be something; of titles

Example:

He was proclaimed King

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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

entitle; title (give a title to)

Sentence frames:

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

Derivation:

proclamation (the formal act of proclaiming; giving public notice)

proclamation (a formal public statement)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Affirm or declare as an attribute or quality of

Example:

The speech predicated the fitness of the candidate to be President

Synonyms:

predicate; proclaim

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

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

assert; asseverate; maintain (state categorically)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Credits

 Context examples: 

The ball was now a settled thing, and before the evening a proclaimed thing to all whom it concerned.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

They were followed by a banner-bearer who held high the scarlet wedge upon a silver field which proclaimed the presence of the famous warrior.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Because she has said that she would send it on the day when the betrothal was publicly proclaimed. That will be next Monday.

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

From the pocket of his light summer overcoat protruded the bundle of indorsed papers which proclaimed his profession.

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

A draggled muslin cap on his head and a dirty gunny-sack about his slim hips proclaimed him cook of the decidedly dirty ship’s galley in which I found myself.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

If Elizabeth and her father did not deceive themselves, had been taking much pains to seek the acquaintance, and proclaim the value of the connection, as he had formerly taken pains to shew neglect.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

The worst fault that the critics could find with him was that there was a want of power in his blows—a remark which certainly could not have been made about his neighbour, whose long face, curved nose, and dark, flashing eyes proclaimed him as a member of the same ancient race.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Elinor could not suppose that Sir John would be more nice in proclaiming his suspicions of her regard for Edward, than he had been with respect to Marianne; indeed it was rather his favourite joke of the two, as being somewhat newer and more conjectural; and since Edward's visit, they had never dined together without his drinking to her best affections with so much significancy and so many nods and winks, as to excite general attention.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

We are not on friendly terms, and it always gives me pain to meet him, but I have no reason for avoiding him but what I might proclaim before all the world, a sense of very great ill-usage, and most painful regrets at his being what he is.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

If you live here tomorrow, I'll have your story and your character proclaimed on the common stair.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)