utter Hear it!

utter¹ Definition

ut·ter (ut′ər)

adjective

  1. complete; total
  2. unqualified; absolute; unconditional

Etymology: ME < OE uttera, compar. of ut, out

utter¹ Related Forms

ut′·terly adverb ut′·ter·ness noun

utter² Definition

ut·ter (ut′ər)

transitive verb

  1. to give out; put forth: now used only of the passing of counterfeit money or forged checks
  2. to produce, speak, or express audibly (speech sounds, syllables, words, thoughts, etc.)
  3. to express in any way
  4. to emit (nonvocal sounds), as if speaking
  5. to make known; divulge; reveal
  6. Obsolete to publish (a book, etc.)
  7. Obsolete to sell (goods, etc.)

Etymology: ME uttren < utter, outward: see utter

intransitive verb

to speak or converse

utter² Related Forms

ut′·ter·able adjective ut′·terer noun

utter Synonyms

utter

modif.

complete, total, thorough; see absolute 1.

utter Synonyms

utter

v.

pronounce, talk, express, come out with, articulate, voice, whisper, mutter, shout, exclaim, enunciate, air, speak, tell, declaim, phonate, disclose, declare, say, phrase, word, assert, affirm, asseverate, ejaculate, vocalize, proclaim, give tongue to, recite, broach, blurt out, let fall, announce.

utter implies the communication of an idea or feeling by means of vocal sounds, such as words, exclamations, etc. he uttered a sigh of relief; express, the broadest of these terms, suggests a revealing of ideas, feelings, one's personality, etc. by means of speech, action, or creative work to express oneself in music; voice suggests expression through words, either spoken or written voicing one's opinions in letters to the editor; broach suggests the utterance or mention of an idea to someone for the first time I'll broach the subject to her at dinner; enunciate suggests the announcement or open attestation of some idea to enunciate a theory, doctrine, etc.

utter Law Definition

adj

v

  1. Total, complete, absolute.
  2. To speak or publish.
  3. v. To use a forged check or instrument; to put it into circulation, as opposed to just creating the forged document.

utter Usage Examples

Object

  • exclamation: We sat on a stile, both of us plunged in meditation, and then he suddenly uttered an exclamation.
  • shriek: Starting up on his knees, he uttered a wild shriek.
  • cry: Even Tinker had uttered a small cry of astonishment.
  • falsehood: Sri Krishna had indeed uttered falsehoods so many times, had broken his pledges, had wives and even ` married ' 16,000 ladies!
  • word: Rebels from God, they uttered words against Him.
  • curse: Just before her death she uttered a curse against the people of Conway, and said they would always be poor.

Modifies a noun

  • contempt: We see their contempt, their utter contempt, for innocent life.
  • nonsense: The whole idea of living collectively is just utter nonsense.
  • amazement: Everyone's initial response was to look up in utter amazement at the shear scale of the mountain.
  • bollock: What complete, and utter, pretentious bollocks, which doesn't say anything, let alone mean anything.
  • disbelief: In utter disbelief his asked Herod " Where do you get this audience?
  • disregard: How truly the New Rightist believes in freedom is shown by his utter disregard of civil rights.

Modifying Another Word

  • repeatedly: He saw Daniel close to the glass, staring down, repeatedly uttering, " Oh my God.
  • barely: Between songs Peter was very quiet, barely uttering a word.
  • once: A reminder that our words, once uttered, have a life of their own.
  • ever: Those able to live righteous lives are righteous people, just as they were before Jesus ever uttered a world of teaching.

Used with adjective complement

dare: No man dared utter a truth to which he felt himself indebted to his Soul alone.

Preposition: in

  • tone: But it was uttered in a tone of affection, which permitted me to feel that I had her attention.
  • breath: Could that be attributed to the fact that every time the Darkness are mentioned, G'n'R are uttered in the same breath?

Preposition: by

speaker: A table of tongue positions for British English vowels ( as uttered by one speaker, at least ) is available here.

Browse dictionary entries near utter

  1. ‹ Uttar Pradesh
  2. ‹ Utsunomiya
  3. ‹ Utrillo
  4. ‹ utricle
  5. ‹ Utrecht
  6. ‹ UTP
  7. ‹ utopianism
  8. ‹ Utopian
  9. ‹ Utopia
  10. ‹ Uto-Aztecan
  1. utterance ›
  2. uttered ›
  3. utterly ›
  4. uttermost ›
  5. Uttley, Alison ›
  6. UU ›
  7. Uub ›
  8. UUCP ›
  9. Uuencode and Uudecode ›
  10. Uun ›