Meaning of declare in English

Table of contents

Verb
declare
Etymology
Middle English: from Latin declarare, from de-‘thoroughly’ + clarare‘make clear’ (from clarus‘clear’)
Definitions
1. state emphatically and authoritatively
Examples
- « He declared that he needed more money to carry out the task he was charged with »
Derived terms
- declaration
2. announce publicly or officially
Examples
- « The President declared war »
Derived terms
3. state firmly
Examples
- « He declared that he was innocent »
Derived terms
4. declare to be
Examples
- « She was declared incompetent »
- « judge held that the defendant was innocent »
5. authorize payments of
Examples
- « declare dividends »
6. designate (a trump suit or no-trump) with the final bid of a hand
Derived terms
7. make a declaration (of dutiable goods) to a customs official
Examples
- « Do you have anything to declare? »
Derived terms
- declaration
8. proclaim one's support, sympathy, or opinion for or against
Examples
- « His wife declared at once for moving to the West Coast »

Famous quotes

« The best way in the world to deceive believers is to cloak a message in religious language and declare that it conveys some new insight from God. »
Charles Stanley
« Stand upright, speak thy thoughts, declare The truth thou hast, that all may share Be bold, proclaim it everywhere: They only live who dare. »
Voltaire
« For many in baseball September is a month of stark contrast with April, when everyone had dared to hope. If baseball is a lot like life, as pundits declare, it is because life is more about losing than winning. »
John Thorn
« The main thing I say on war is that we need to obey the law and formally declare war. »
Rand Paul
« We should declare war on North Vietnam. We could pave the whole country and put parking strips on it, and still be home by Christmas. »
Ronald Reagan