utter

¹

[ uht-er ]

verb (used with object)

1. to give audible expression to; speak or pronounce:

   unable to utter her feelings;

   Words were uttered in my hearing.

   Synonyms: voice, verbalize, state, speak, say, pronounce, enunciate, articulate

2. to give forth (cries, notes, etc.) with the voice:

   to utter a sigh.

   Synonyms: breathe, give, emit

3. Phonetics. to produce (speech sounds, speechlike sounds, syllables, words, etc.) audibly, with or without reference to formal language.
4. to express (oneself or itself), especially in words.
5. to give forth (a sound) otherwise than with the voice:

   The engine uttered a shriek.

6. to express by written or printed words.
7. to make publicly known; publish:

   to utter a libel.

8. to put into circulation, as coins, notes, and especially counterfeit money or forged checks.
9. British Dialect. to expel; discharge or emit.
10. Obsolete. to publish, as a book.
11. Obsolete. to sell.

verb (used without object)

1. to employ the faculty of speech; use the voice to talk, make sounds, etc.:

   His piety prevented him from uttering on religion.

2. to sustain utterance; undergo speaking:

   Those ideas are so dishonest they will not utter.

utter

²

[ uht-er ]

adjective

1. complete; total; absolute:

   her utter abandonment to grief;

   utter strangers.

2. unconditional; unqualified:

   an utter denial.

utter

¹

/ ˈʌtə /

verb

1. to give audible expression to (something)

   to utter a growl

2. criminal law to put into circulation (counterfeit coin, forged banknotes, etc)
3. tr to make publicly known; publish

   to utter slander

4. obsolete.
   to give forth, issue, or emit

utter

²

/ ˈʌtə /

adjective

1. prenominal (intensifier)

   utter bliss

   an utter fool

   the utter limit

Derived Forms

• ˈutterless, adjective
• ˈutterer, noun
• ˈutterable, adjective
• ˈutterableness, noun

Other Words From

• utter·a·ble adjective
• utter·er noun
• utter·less adjective
• un·uttered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of utter¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English outren, uttren; cognate with German äussern “to declare”; out, -er ⁶

Origin of utter²

First recorded before 900; Middle English outre, utter(e), Old English uttra, ūtera “outer”; out, -er ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of utter¹

C14: probably originally a commercial term, from Middle Dutch ūteren (modern Dutch uiteren ) to make known; related to Middle Low German ūtern to sell, show

Origin of utter²

C15: from Old English utera outer, comparative of ūte out (adv); related to Old High German ūzaro, Old Norse ūtri

Synonym Study

See absolute.

Example Sentences

In “Clarence,” when John the Baptist utters a prayer, Samuel has a flute ghosting every syllable.

From Los Angeles Times

The government has previously estimated just 500 of the UK's wealthiest landowners would be affected by the change - a figure the Liberal Democrats called "utter rubbish".

From BBC

The MP also said he regularly read "heart-breaking posts" on local forums from parents in "utter despair" begging for baby food donations to tide them over until the next pay day.

From BBC

"That went down a lot better than it did in Eurovision," he laughed, shortly before Jedward invaded the stage and caused utter chaos.

From BBC

Winding up face down on the court, Bilodeau pounded the hardwood with both hands and uttered an expletive.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• announce
• articulate
• assert
• asseverate
• declaim
• declare
• deliver
• enunciate
• express
• proclaim
• pronounce
• recite
• speak