declare

/di-ˈkler/

Middle English, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French declarer, from Latin declarare, from de- + clarare to make visible, from clarus clear

verb

  1. to make known formally, officially, or explicitly

  2. to make known as a determination

  3. to make clear

publicly declared her opposition to the plan

The judge declared the defendant fit to stand trial.

declare announce proclaim promulgate mean to make known publicly. declare implies explicitness and usually formality in making known. announce implies the declaration of something for the first time.

phrasal verb

  1. to officially say that one opposes (someone or something)

She declared against the government's policies.

idiom

  1. to formally say in a legal document that one is bankrupt

Because of high medical expenses, he declared bankruptcy.