/ dɪˈkleə(r); NAmE dɪˈkler/ verb
1.
to say sth officially or publicly :
[ vn ]
The government has declared a state of emergency.
Germany declared war on France on 1 August 1914.
The government has declared war on (= officially stated its intention to stop) illiteracy.
[ v that ]
The court declared that strike action was illegal.
[ vn - n ]
The area has been declared a national park.
[ vn to inf ]
The painting was declared to be a forgery.
[ vn - adj ]
The contract was declared void.
I declare this bridge open.
2.
to state sth firmly and clearly :
[ v speech ]
'I'll do it!' Tom declared.
[ v that ]
He declared that he was in love with her.
[ vn ]
Few people dared to declare their opposition to the regime.
[ vn - adj ]
She declared herself extremely hurt by his lack of support.
[also vn - n ]
3.
[ vn ] to tell the tax authorities how much money you have earned :
All income must be declared.
4.
[ vn ] to tell customs officers (= at the border of a country) that you are carrying goods on which you should pay tax :
Do you have anything to declare?
5.
[ v ] ( in cricket ) to decide to end your innings (= the period during which your team is batting ) before all your players have batted
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- declare against sb/sth
- declare for sb/sth
••
SYNONYMS
declare
state ♦ indicate ♦ announce
These words all mean to say sth, usually firmly and clearly and often in public.
declare
( rather formal ) to say sth officially or publicly; to state sth firmly and clearly:
to declare war
•
The painting was declared to be a forgery.
state
( rather formal ) to formally write or say sth, especially in a careful and clear way:
He has already stated his intention to run for election.
indicate
( rather formal ) to state sth, sometimes in a way that is slightly indirect:
During our meeting, he indicated his willingness to cooperate.
announce
to tell people officially about a decision or plans; to give information about sth in a public place, especially through a loudspeaker; to say sth in a loud and/or serious way:
They haven't formally announced their engagement yet.
•
Has our flight been announced yet?
declare or announce?
Declare is used more often for giving judgements; announce is used more often for giving facts: The painting was announced to be a forgery. • They haven't formally declared their engagement yet.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
to declare / state / indicate / announce that...
to declare / state sb/sth to be sth
to declare / state / indicate / announce your intention to do sth
to declare / state / announce sth formally / publicly / officially
to declare / state / announce sth firmly / clearly / plainly
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Latin declarare , from de- thoroughly + clarare make clear (from clarus clear).