declare
/dɪˈklɛː
/verb
1 [reporting verb] Say something in a solemn and emphatic manner: [with clause]: the prime minister declared that the programme of austerity had paid off [with direct speech]: ‘I was under too much pressure,’ he declared...
- He declared in a solemn voice that she had a bad case of typhoid fever - that it was unlikely, at the rate she was deteriorating, that she would survive.
- Seeing my press badge, she approached and insisted on speaking to me, declaring she was from France and could give me the French perspective.
- ‘They went crazy,’ he declares with utter incredulity.
Synonyms
proclaim, announce, make known, state, communicate, reveal, divulge, mention, talk about, raise, moot, air, bring into the open, voice, articulate, pronounce, express, vent, set forth, make public, publicize, disseminate, circulate, publish, broadcast, promulgate, trumpet, blazon
informal come out with, shout from the rooftops
literary noise abroad, blazon abroad
rare preconize
1.1 [with object] Formally announce the beginning of (a state or condition): Spain declared war on Britain in 1796...
- The Boers declared war on Britain on October 9, 1899, and peace was not declared until May 31, 1902.
- I wonder if the government has yet declared a State of Emergency.
- When faced with serious disasters, countries often declare a formal state of emergency.
Synonyms
assert, maintain, state, aver, affirm, contend, argue, insist, hold, profess, move, claim, allege, avow, vow, swear, attest, testify, certify
informal make out
technical depose, represent
formal opine
archaic avouch
rare asseverate
1.2 [with object and complement] Pronounce or assert (a person or thing) to be something specified: the mansion was declared a fire hazard...
- What is considered healthy in one decade is declared a hazard next - and years later it is welcomed back to the fold of healthy eating.
- Some workers are declared legally blind but claim they can see well enough to watch television or drive.
- This, however, does not mean that Chorny can return to Bulgaria, because the Interior Ministry last autumn issued a further order declaring him persona non grata.
1.3 [no object] (declare for/against) British Openly align oneself for or against (a party or position) in a dispute: the president had declared for denuclearization of Europe...
- Each day, when one opens a paper and sees an aspirant declaring for a party and saying that he declared for the party because it is the only one that can salvage the country, one knows that it is all lies.
- It may also give other associations who are holding their fire at the minute out of party loyalty, the push to declare for the DUP.
- MAYBE A P Cox finds sitting on the fence more comfortable than declaring for or against emission zones.
1.4 (declare oneself) Reveal one’s intentions or identity: a number of interested parties who can’t declare themselves openly...
- He's had a big following within the gay community because he was early on such a proponent of the idea of coming out of the closet and declaring yourself.
- But the GDC has to rely on foreign dentists declaring themselves if they have a criminal conviction.
- Sometimes it was worth declaring myself and enduring the ‘No, I'm not interested’ conversation so I could emerge raw, bleeding and free on the other side.
1.5 [no object] Announce oneself as a candidate for an election: he declared last April...
- The outcome of that meeting was that Ms Harkin declared as a candidate the following day, while Dr Cowley appeared to leave the door open for his entry into the race by suggesting a pact between himself and Ms Harkin.
- If you look at all the nine declared Democratic presidential candidates, you are basically at the bottom right now, 2 percent, even below Al Sharpton.
- Candidates declared to date are Vic Toews for the Conservative party, the incumbent, Peter Epp for the Liberals and Sarah Zaharia for the New Democrats.
1.6 (declare oneself) archaic Express feelings of love to someone: she waited in vain for him to declare himself...
- He, however, cannot contain his passionate love, and finally declares himself to her.
- She waited in vain for him to declare himself.
- You should have thought of that before you declared yourself to her, Mr. Neville
2 [with object] Acknowledge possession of (taxable income or dutiable goods): if you have something to declare customs officers will tell you the duty payable...
- The court was told White filled in and signed one claim form seven months after starting work as a police officer and did not declare her income.
- Under regulations, adopted by Parliament, lawyers, prosecutors and magistrates are to declare incomes and property with the National Audit Office.
- The Inland Revenue head office tells me that all taxable income that must be declared on your tax return counts towards the limit.
3 [no object] Cricket Close an innings voluntarily before all the wickets have fallen: Pakistan declared at 446 for four...
- The day began with India on 337 for 7, and they managed to push the score on to 410 before declaring with two wickets in hand.
- They declared when their second innings total had reached 458 for eight, setting Sussex 322 to win and although Sussex never threatened that target, they held out for the draw.
- Leicestershire had started the morning needing 365 to avoid an innings defeat after Australia declared on their overnight total of 582 for 7.
4 [with object] Announce that one holds (certain combinations of cards) in a card game.After everyone has declared any combinations they wish to, the player to dealer's left leads to the first trick....
- A claim can be made after you have won a trick, or immediately after declaring a combination.
- A claimed trio is a when a player announces a trio right after making a move, instead of a true trio which is declared before dealing any card.
4.1Name (the trump suit) in a card game.If playing six-handed, the bid winner picks up the six cards from the ‘widow ‘and declares the trump suit.’...
- After the dealer has declared Trump Suit five cards are turned from the top of the Quest Pack.
- If they cannot, then they must play their trump, if they declared one.
Phrases
well, I declare
Derivatives
declarable
/ adjective ...- The Department of Education figures confirm that, in the three 12-month periods between April 1998 and March 2001, Costello was paid €1,451, €2,053 and €1,260, each below the declarable amount.
- Irish Life and Permanent are the only prospective bidders with an existing declarable shareholding, standing at just 3.1%, but this holding is far too small to deter a bid for the company.
- The Finance Ministry will have to determine the minimum declarable amount of local or foreign currency.
declaratory
/ adjective ...- Connoisseurs of this ancient ritual often forget…how strange that declaratory style is to any sane modern citizen.
- South Asia is well known to foreign observers as the home of declaratory policies - in other words, hot air, and little action.
- It's a very Russian kind of poetry - direct, emotional, declaratory, un-precious.
Origin
Middle English: from Latin declarare, from de- 'thoroughly' + clarare 'make clear' (from clarus 'clear').
clarinet from [mid 18th century]:
This musical term is from French clarinette, a diminutive of clarine denoting a kind of bell; it is related to Middle English clarion originally ‘a shrill narrow-tubed war trumpet’, from medieval Latin clario(n-), from Latin clarus ‘clear’. From the same source come claret, clarity, clarify, clear, and declare; all Middle English.