proclaim

proclaim — verb

1. to make an important fact, decision, or belief known to many people in an offici

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to make an important fact, decision, or belief known to many people in an official or formal way, often with ceremony or a sense of importance.

Example

The mayor proclaimed the third of May a public holiday to mark the city's founding.

proclaim + noun phrase + noun phrase (two objects)

Tariq's father proclaimed that the family business would be passed down to the eldest son.

proclaim + that-clause for official announcement

Common collocations
  • proclaim independence
  • proclaim victory
  • proclaim a republic
  • proclaim someone king/president/leader
  • proclaim a national holiday
  • proclaim a state of emergency
Synonyms
  • declare

    also formal and emphatic, but 'declare' can be used more broadly for any forceful statement; 'proclaim' carries a stronger sense of publicity and ceremony.

  • announce

    neutral and very common; 'proclaim' is more formal and implies greater importance or ceremony.

  • pronounce

    used especially in legal, religious, or authoritative contexts such as a judge or priest making a formal statement.

Antonyms
  • conceal

    to keep something hidden rather than making it known.

  • suppress

    to prevent information from becoming public.

Grammar Patterns

proclaim + noun phrase

proclaim + that-clause

proclaim + noun phrase + noun phrase (two objects)

Usage Note

Frequently used for official or ceremonial announcements by governments, institutions, or other authorities. Less common in everyday conversation — use announce for casual situations.

Common Mistakes

The teacher proclaimed the test results to the class.
The teacher announced the test results to the class.
'proclaim' suggests a formal or ceremonial announcement, which makes it sound unnatural for routine school situations.
He proclaimed he had seen a ghost.
He claimed he had seen a ghost.
'proclaim' is for public announcements of important facts, not for personal assertions without evidence.

2. to make a particular quality, feeling, or characteristic clearly visible through

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to make a particular quality, feeling, or characteristic clearly visible through one's actions, appearance, or behaviour.

Example

The cheering crowd proclaimed their support for the injured player as he left the field.

abstract quality (support) made visible through action

Daichi's quiet confidence was proclaimed by the way he handled every question without hesitation.

passive: be proclaimed by + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • proclaim one's innocence
  • proclaim one's identity
  • proclaim one's faith
  • proclaim one's intentions
  • one's actions proclaim
  • one's appearance proclaims
Synonyms
  • reveal

    more neutral and common; 'proclaim' is stronger, suggesting the quality is impossible to miss.

  • indicate

    less emphatic; something 'indicates' a fact, while 'proclaim' suggests a clear and vivid display.

  • demonstrate

    more deliberate and intentional than 'proclaim', which can happen unintentionally.

Antonyms
  • hide

    to keep a quality or feeling from being seen.

  • mask

    to cover or disguise a quality so it is not visible.

Grammar Patterns

proclaim + noun phrase

passive: be proclaimed by + noun phrase

Usage Note

Often used with an abstract subject (a thing, a situation, or an appearance) rather than a person deliberately showing something. The subject reveals a quality naturally, not through conscious effort.

Common Mistakes

She proclaimed her new dress to her friends.
She showed her new dress to her friends.
In this sense, 'proclaim' means a quality becomes visible, not that a person deliberately displays an object.

3. to speak about someone or something with great enthusiasm and admiration in a pu

3.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to speak about someone or something with great enthusiasm and admiration in a public setting, often highlighting their merits or achievements.

Example

Critics proclaimed the young architect as the most innovative designer of the decade.

proclaim + noun phrase + as + noun phrase

The newspaper editorial proclaimed the bravery of the firefighters who saved the family from the fire.

Common collocations
  • proclaim the virtues of
  • proclaim the achievements of
  • proclaim someone as a genius/hero
  • proclaim the merits of
Synonyms
  • extol

    more literary and formal; both suggest enthusiastic public praise, but 'extol' is even rarer.

  • praise

    much more common and can be used in any context; 'proclaim' adds a sense of formality and public ceremony.

  • glorify

    stronger, often with religious or patriotic overtones; 'proclaim' is more neutral in tone.

Antonyms
  • criticize

    to express disapproval rather than admiration.

  • condemn

    to express strong public disapproval.

Grammar Patterns

proclaim + noun phrase

proclaim + noun phrase + as + noun phrase

Usage Note

Restricted to formal, ceremonial, or literary contexts. In everyday speech, use 'praise' or 'admire' instead.

Common Mistakes

I proclaimed my friend for helping me move house.
I praised my friend for helping me move house.
'proclaim' in this sense suggests a public, formal declaration, not casual personal gratitude.

Word family

  • proclamation
    nounB2
  • proclaimed
    adjectiveC1
  • proclaimer
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words involve making something known, but they differ in formality, ceremony, and context. 'Announce' is neutral and widely used — a company announces a new product, or a school announces exam dates. 'Declare' is more emphatic and official, often suggesting a clear, forceful statement: a government declares a state of emergency, or someone declares their love. 'Proclaim' is the most ceremonial and public, carrying a sense of importance and formality — a nation proclaims its independence, or a crowd proclaims a victor. 'Pronounce' is the most solemn, found in legal or authoritative settings: a judge pronounces a sentence, or a priest pronounces a couple married. In daily speech, 'announce' is the safest choice; 'proclaim' should be reserved for contexts where the announcement feels historic or momentous.

announce ↗declare ↗proclaim ↗pronounce ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • proclaim to the world
  • proclaim from the rooftops
  • proclaim loud and clear

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'proclamare', formed from 'pro-' (meaning 'forth, forward') and 'clamare' (meaning 'to shout or cry out'). The word entered English through Old French 'proclamer'. The original sense of 'shouting forth' evolved into the modern meaning of making an official or public announcement.