proclaim
proclaim
Pronunciation
/proʊˈkleɪm/
Syllable Breakdown:
pro: /proʊ/
/p/ - voiceless bilabial stop (similar to the 'p' in 'pen')
/r/ - alveolar approximant (similar to the 'r' in 'red')
/oʊ/ - diphthong, starting with a mid back rounded vowel and moving towards a high back rounded vowel (similar to the 'o' in 'go')
claim: /kleɪm/
/k/ - voiceless velar stop (similar to the 'c' in 'cat')
/l/ - alveolar lateral approximant (similar to the 'l' in 'lip')
/eɪ/ - diphthong, starting with a mid front unrounded vowel and moving towards a high front unrounded vowel (similar to the 'a' in 'day')
/m/ - bilabial nasal (similar to the 'm' in 'man')
Word Form Variations
Proclaim is a verb, and here are its different forms:
Base form: proclaim
Third-person singular present tense: proclaims (He proclaims his love for her.)
Present participle: proclaiming (They are proclaiming their innocence.)
Past tense: proclaimed (She proclaimed herself the winner.)
Past participle: proclaimed (The news was proclaimed throughout the land.)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To announce officially or publicly; to declare something in a formal and assertive manner.
Synonyms: announce, declare, pronounce, herald, broadcast, trumpet
Antonyms: conceal, hide, suppress, withhold, keep secret
Definition 2: To show clearly; to indicate or reveal something through actions or appearance.
Synonyms: demonstrate, exhibit, manifest, display, evince
Antonyms: disguise, mask, conceal, belie
Noun (While "proclaim" itself isn't a noun, there is a related noun form)
Proclamation: A public and official announcement.
Synonyms: declaration, announcement, decree, edict, pronouncement
Antonyms: concealment, suppression, secrecy
Examples of Use
Books:
Literature: "He proclaimed his love for her in no uncertain terms, his voice echoing through the ancient halls." (Example from a fictional romance novel)
Non-Fiction: "The study proclaims the benefits of a Mediterranean diet for heart health." (Example from a health book)
Newspapers:
"The President proclaimed a state of emergency in response to the hurricane." (The New York Times)
"Scientists proclaim a breakthrough in cancer research." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"A new blog post proclaims the death of the traditional office." (Forbes.com)
"Experts proclaim this the best year yet for tech startups." (TechCrunch)
Entertainment:
Movie: "The king proclaimed that the prince would be his successor." (Example from a historical drama)
Video Game: "A booming voice proclaims the start of the tournament." (Example from a fantasy game)
General Public Discourse:
Social Media: "Influencers proclaim the benefits of a new skincare product." (Example from a beauty influencer's Instagram post)
Politics: "The candidate proclaimed their commitment to education reform." (Example from a political speech)
10 Famous Quotes Using Proclaim
"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." – Leviticus 25:10
"The function of art is to proclaim the truth of life." – Gustave Courbet
"Proclaim the truth and do not be silent through fear." – Saint Catherine of Siena
"Those who proclaim peace must have peace within their hearts." – Unknown
"Leaders do not proclaim their greatness; they prove it through action." – Unknown
"A great nation does not need to proclaim its power—it is known through its actions." – Unknown
"Proclaiming love is easy; proving it is the real test." – Unknown
"If you proclaim yourself wise, be prepared to be tested by fools." – Unknown
"Some proclaim justice loudly, while others quietly create it." – Unknown
"To proclaim hope in dark times is to bring light to the world." – Unknown
Etymology
Imagine a town crier in the olden days, standing in the town square, ringing a bell and shouting important news for everyone to hear. That's the basic idea behind "proclaim"!
The word "proclaim" comes from the Latin word "proclamare," which literally means "to cry out." It's made up of two parts:
"pro": This means "forth" or "outward," like you're sending something out for everyone to know.
"clamare": This means "to cry" or "to shout," just like that town crier.
So, when you "proclaim" something, you're essentially "crying it out" for the world to hear.
The word first popped up in English around the 14th century, and it basically meant the same thing then as it does now: to announce something publicly and officially. Think of kings and queens making grand declarations, or important news being spread throughout the land.
Over time, "proclaim" has also come to mean showing something clearly through your actions, like when we say someone's face "proclaims" their happiness. But the core idea of making something known remains at its heart.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Proclaim
Phrases with "proclaim"
Proclaim to the world: To announce something widely and publicly. (e.g., "She wanted to proclaim to the world that she was in love.")
Proclaim someone (as) something: To officially declare someone to have a certain title or status. (e.g., "He was proclaimed the winner of the contest.")
Self-proclaimed expert/genius/etc.: Used to describe someone who claims to be something, often without any real proof. (e.g., "He's a self-proclaimed expert on everything.")
Idioms with synonyms
Shout it from the rooftops: To announce something very publicly and enthusiastically. (similar to "proclaim to the world")
Spread the word: To tell a lot of people about something.
Sing someone's praises: To express strong approval or admiration for someone. (similar to "proclaim someone's greatness")
Make it known: To inform people about something.
Original phrases
Proclaim your truth: To express your beliefs and values openly.
Proclaim your intentions: To state your plans or goals clearly.
Proclaim your love from the mountaintops: A more poetic way of saying "proclaim your love to the world."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of proclaim from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
