proclaim

UK: /prəˈkleɪm/ US: /proʊˈkleɪm, prə-/ ,(prō klām′, prə-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

pro•claim /proʊˈkleɪm, prə-/   v. 

1. to declare in an official public manner: [~ + object]
   to proclaim a great victory.
   [~ + that clause]
   The dictator proclaimed that all the political prisoners could go free.

See -claim-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pro•claim  (prō klām′, prə-), v.t. 

1. to announce or declare in an official or formal manner:
   to proclaim war.
2. to announce or declare in an open or ostentatious way:
   to proclaim one's opinions.
3. to indicate or make known publicly or openly.
4. to extol or praise publicly:
   Let them proclaim the Lord.
5. to declare (a territory, district, etc.) subject to particular legal restrictions.
6. to declare to be an outlaw, evildoer, or the like.
7. to denounce or prohibit publicly.

v.i. 

8. to make a proclamation.

• Latin prōclāmāre to cry out. See pro-¹, claim
• Middle English 1350–1400

pro•claim′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. advertise. See announce. 
• 2. promulgate.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

proclaim / prəˈkleɪm/ verb (transitive)

1. (may take a clause as object) to announce publicly
2. to praise or extol

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin prōclāmāre to shout aloud

proˈclaimer noun

proclamation / ˌprɒkləˈmeɪʃən/ noun

proclamatory / prəˈklæmətərɪ -trɪ/ adjective