declare

declare — verb

1. to say something in a clear, firm way to many people, especially in a formal or

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to say something in a clear, firm way to many people, especially in a formal or public situation, so that everyone knows about it.

Example

Christopher declared his love for Élise at the family dinner table.

declare + direct object (love / support / loyalty)

The mayor declared the new hospital wing open after a short speech.

declare + object + complement (open / closed / winner)

Common collocations
  • declare war on
  • declare independence
  • declare a state of emergency
  • declare someone the winner
  • declare the meeting open
Synonyms
  • announce

    more general and slightly less formal; used for making something known to a group of people

  • proclaim

    more formal and dramatic, often used for important public or national announcements

  • state

    to say or write something clearly; less official, more about expressing a fact or opinion

  • assert

    to state something firmly and forcefully, especially when others may disagree

Antonyms
  • conceal

    to hide information instead of making it known publicly

  • deny

    to state that something is not true, the opposite of affirming it

Grammar Patterns

declare + noun phrase

declare + that‑clause

declare + noun phrase + noun/adjective (complement)

declare + direct speech

Usage Note

Frequently used in political, legal, and ceremonial contexts. The pattern ‘declare + object + complement’ (e.g. declare the meeting open, declare someone the winner) is common in formal spoken announcements.

Common Mistakes

❗ ‘She declared that she will come tomorrow.’ ✅ ‘She declared that she would come tomorrow.’ — When the main verb is past tense, the verb in the that‑clause must backshift to past. ‘Declare’ is often followed by reported speech, so backshift applies.

❗ ‘He declared about the problem in the meeting.’ ✅ ‘He declared that there was a problem in the meeting.’ — ‘Declare’ in this sense takes a that‑clause or a direct object, not a prepositional phrase with ‘about’.

2. to officially report your income, property, or purchased items to a government b

2.verbtransitiveB1
Definition

to officially report your income, property, or purchased items to a government body or customs officer, so that the proper tax or duty can be calculated.

Example

At the airport, passengers must declare goods worth more than five hundred dollars.

declare + goods at customs

Heloísa forgot to declare the money she earned from freelance design work last year.

declare + income / earnings for tax purposes

Common collocations
  • declare income
  • declare goods
  • declare assets
  • declare earnings
  • declare at customs
Synonyms
  • report

    to give information to an authority; broader in meaning, not limited to tax or customs

  • disclose

    to make something known, especially something that was previously private or hidden

Grammar Patterns

declare + goods/income/assets

declare + noun phrase + to + authority

declare + noun phrase + on + document

Usage Note

The object is nearly always a type of income, goods, or assets (e.g. declare earnings, declare property). In customs contexts, the person travelling is the subject. In tax contexts, the person earning or the accountant is the subject.

Common Mistakes

❗ ‘I forgot to declare at customs about the wine.’ ✅ ‘I forgot to declare the wine at customs.’ — In this sense ‘declare’ is transitive; the goods or income must be the direct object, not part of a prepositional phrase.

3. (in the sport of cricket) to stop batting and bring your team’s turn at the crea

3.verbintransitiveC2
Definition

(in the sport of cricket) to stop batting and bring your team’s turn at the crease to an end because you believe your current score is high enough to win the match.

Example

The cricket captain decided to declare after their team reached four hundred runs.

intransitive: team/captain + declare, ending the innings

England declared before lunch, leaving Australia a difficult target to chase.

Common collocations
  • declare the innings closed
  • declare on
  • decide to declare
  • declared at

Grammar Patterns

team/captain + declare

declare on + score + for + wickets

declare + time reference

Usage Note

This sense is restricted to the sport of cricket and is almost always intransitive. The subject is the team captain, the team name, or the team itself. The decision to declare is a strategic choice that often puts pressure on the opposing team.

Phrasal verbs

declare against

phrasal verb

To say publicly that you oppose something or someone.

The senator declared against the new tax bill in a speech.

Did your union declare against the proposed contract changes?

declare for

phrasal verb

To say publicly that you support something or someone.

Several countries declared for the environmental treaty at the summit.

Maya declared for the candidate after hearing her plans.

Word family

  • declaration
    nounB2
  • declared
    adjectiveB2
  • undeclared
    adjectiveC1
  • declarative
    adjectiveC1
  • declarer
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All five words involve making something known, but they differ in tone and context. ‘Announce’ is the most neutral and widely used — you announce a wedding, a flight delay, or a new product. ‘Declare’ carries more weight: it suggests a formal, deliberate, or emphatic statement, often with official consequences (declare war, declare independence). ‘Proclaim’ is dramatic and public-oriented, used for historic or celebratory announcements (proclaim a king). ‘State’ is plain and factual — you state an opinion or a fact without ceremony. ‘Assert’ adds force: you assert something when others might disagree or doubt it. For everyday announcements in a meeting, use ‘announce’ or ‘state’; for an official or emphatic public statement, use ‘declare’; for grand proclamations, use ‘proclaim’; and when defending a point against opposition, use ‘assert’.

announce ↗proclaim ↗declare ↗state ↗assert ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • declare war on
  • declare open
  • declare an interest
  • declare oneself

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

From Latin 'declarāre', made up of 'dē-' (intensifier, making the action stronger) and 'clārāre' (to make clear), which comes from 'clārus' (clear, bright). The word entered English through Old French 'declarer' in the 14th century, originally meaning to make clear or explain. Over time it took on the stronger sense of making an official or public statement.