utter
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to utter: utterly
utter
speak or pronounce: Don’t utter a word.; complete; total; absolute: the utter truth; unconditional; unqualified: He’s an utter liar.
Not to be confused with:
udder – a mammary gland, especially when baggy and with more than one teat, as in cows
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
ut·ter 1
(ŭt′ər)tr.v. ut·tered, ut·ter·ing, ut·ters
1. To send forth with the voice: uttered a cry.
2. To articulate (words); pronounce or speak: uttered "yes."
3. Law To put (counterfeit currency or a forged check or instrument) into circulation: utter a bad check.
4. Obsolete To offer (merchandise) for sale; sell.
[Middle English utteren, partly from Middle Low German uteren (from uter, outer, comparative of ūt, out; see ud- in Indo-European roots) and alteration (influenced by utter, outer) of Middle English outen, to disclose (from out, out; see out).]
ut′ter·a·ble adj.
ut′ter·er n.
ut·ter 2
(ŭt′ər)adj.
Complete; absolute; entire: utter nonsense; utter darkness.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
utter
(ˈʌtə)vb
1. to give audible expression to (something): to utter a growl.
2. (Law) criminal law to put into circulation (counterfeit coin, forged banknotes, etc)
3. (tr) to make publicly known; publish: to utter slander.
4. obsolete to give forth, issue, or emit
[C14: probably originally a commercial term, from Middle Dutch ūteren (modern Dutch uiteren) to make known; related to Middle Low German ūtern to sell, show]
ˈutterable adj
ˈutterableness n
ˈutterer n
ˈutterless adj
utter
(ˈʌtə)adj
(prenominal) (intensifier): an utter fool; utter bliss; the utter limit.
[C15: from Old English utera outer, comparative of ūte out (adv); related to Old High German ūzaro, Old Norse ūtri]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ut•ter1
(ˈʌt ər)v.t.
1. to give audible, esp. verbal, expression to; speak or pronounce: unable to utter a word.
2. to emit (cries, notes, etc.) with the voice: to utter a sigh.
3. to give forth (a sound) otherwise than with the voice: The engine uttered a shriek.
4. to express by written or printed words.
5. to make publicly known; publish: to utter a libel.
6. to put into circulation, as coins, notes, and esp. counterfeit money or forged checks.
7. to expel; emit.
8. Obs. to publish, as a book.
9. Obs. to sell.
v.i. 10. to use the voice to talk, make sounds, etc.; speak.
ut′ter•a•ble, adj.
ut•ter2
(ˈʌt ər)adj.
1. complete; total; absolute: utter abandonment to grief.
2. unconditional; unqualified: an utter denial.
ut′ter•ly, adv.
ut′ter•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
utter
- arrant - Means "complete, utter," as in arrant knave, "an extremely untrustworthy individual."
- explore - Comes from Latin, meaning "search out," from ex-, "out," and plorare, "utter a cry."
- whicker - To utter a half-suppressed laugh.
- yodel - From Bavarian jodln, "to utter the syllable jo (yo)."
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
utter
Past participle: uttered
Gerund: uttering
| Imperative |
|---|
| utter |
| utter |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Verb | 1. |  utter - articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise; "She expressed her anger"; "He uttered a curse"blaspheme, curse, cuss, swear, imprecate - utter obscenities or profanities; "The drunken men were cursing loudly in the street" wish - make or express a wish; "I wish that Christmas were over" cry out, exclaim, call out, outcry, shout, cry - utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy; "`I won!' he exclaimed"; "`Help!' she cried"; "`I'm here,' the mother shouted when she saw her child looking lost" clamour, clamor - utter or proclaim insistently and noisily; "The delegates clamored their disappointment" vociferate, shout out - utter in a very loud voice; "They vociferated their demands" marvel - express astonishment or surprise about something voice - give voice to; "He voiced his concern" raise - cause to be heard or known; express or utter; "raise a shout"; "raise a protest"; "raise a sad cry" breathe - utter or tell; "not breathe a word" drop - utter with seeming casualness; "drop a hint"; drop names" pour out - express without restraint; "The woman poured out her frustrations as the judge listened" get off - deliver verbally; "He got off the best line I've heard in a long time" platitudinize - utter platitudes; "The candidate platitudinized and bored the audience" say - utter aloud; "She said `Hello' to everyone in the office" represent - serve as a means of expressing something; "The flower represents a young girl" say, state, tell - express in words; "He said that he wanted to marry her"; "tell me what is bothering you"; "state your opinion"; "state your name" pooh-pooh - express contempt about |
| 2. |  utter - express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words); "She let out a big heavy sigh"; "He uttered strange sounds that nobody could understand"call - utter in a loud voice or announce; "He called my name"; "The auctioneer called the bids" gibber - chatter inarticulately; of monkeys crow - express pleasure verbally; "She crowed with joy" crow - utter shrill sounds; "The cocks crowed all morning" trumpet - utter in trumpet-like sounds; "Elephants are trumpeting" coo - cry softly, as of pigeons cry, scream, shout out, yell, squall, shout, holler, hollo, call - utter a sudden loud cry; "she cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle"; "I yelled to her from the window but she couldn't hear me" call - utter a characteristic note or cry; "bluejays called to one another" shoot - utter fast and forcefully; "She shot back an answer" gurgle - utter with a gurgling sound; "`Help,' the stabbing victim gurgled" cry - utter a characteristic sound; "The cat was crying" nasale - speak in a nasal voice; "`Come here,' he nasaled" bite out - utter; "She bit out a curse" sigh - utter with a sigh troat - emit a cry intended to attract other animals; used especially of animals at rutting time lift - make audible; "He lifted a war whoop" pant - utter while panting, as if out of breath volley - utter rapidly; "volley a string of curses" break into - express or utter spontaneously; "break into a yodel"; "break into a song"; "break into tears" heave - utter a sound, as with obvious effort; "She heaved a deep sigh when she saw the list of things to do" chorus - utter in unison; "`yes,' the children chorused" deliver - utter (an exclamation, noise, etc.); "The students delivered a cry of joy" hoot - to utter a loud clamorous shout; "the toughs and blades of the city hoot and bang their drums, drink arak, play dice, and dance" grunt - issue a grunting, low, animal-like noise; "He grunted his reluctant approval" wolf-whistle - whistle or howl approvingly at a female, of males snort - indicate contempt by breathing noisily and forcefully through the nose; "she snorted her disapproval of the proposed bridegroom" groan, moan - indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure; "The students groaned when the professor got out the exam booklets"; "The ancient door soughed when opened" growl, rumble, grumble - to utter or emit low dull rumbling sounds; "he grumbled a rude response"; "Stones grumbled down the cliff" bark - make barking sounds; "The dogs barked at the stranger" chirr - make a vibrant noise, of grasshoppers or cicadas quack - utter quacking noises; "The ducks quacked" hoot - utter the characteristic sound of owls sibilate - utter a sibilant cackle - squawk shrilly and loudly, characteristic of hens gobble - make a gurgling sound, characteristic of turkeys gargle - utter with gargling or burbling sounds caw - utter a cry, characteristic of crows, rooks, or ravens mew - utter a high-pitched cry, as of seagulls | |
| 3. | utter - express in speech; "She talks a lot of nonsense"; "This depressed patient does not verbalize" read - look at, interpret, and say out loud something that is written or printed; "The King will read the proclamation at noon" communicate, intercommunicate - transmit thoughts or feelings; "He communicated his anxieties to the psychiatrist" troll - speak or recite rapidly or in a rolling voice begin - begin to speak or say; "Now listen, friends," he began lip off, shoot one's mouth off - speak spontaneously and without restraint; "She always shoots her mouth off and says things she later regrets" shout - utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice (usually denoting characteristic manner of speaking); "My grandmother is hard of hearing--you'll have to shout" whisper - speak softly; in a low voice peep - speak in a hesitant and high-pitched tone of voice speak up - speak louder; raise one's voice; "The audience asked the lecturer to please speak up" snap, snarl - utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone; "The sales clerk snapped a reply at the angry customer"; "The guard snarled at us" enthuse - utter with enthusiasm speak in tongues - speak unintelligibly in or as if in religious ecstasy; "The parishioners spoke in tongues" swallow - utter indistinctly; "She swallowed the last words of her speech" whiff - utter with a puff of air; "whiff out a prayer" talk of, talk about - discuss or mention; "They spoke of many things" blubber out, blubber - utter while crying stammer, stutter, bumble, falter - speak haltingly; "The speaker faltered when he saw his opponent enter the room" rasp - utter in a grating voice blunder out, blurt, blurt out, blunder - utter impulsively; "He blurted out the secret"; "He blundered his stupid ideas" deliver, present - deliver (a speech, oration, or idea); "The commencement speaker presented a forceful speech that impressed the students" generalise, generalize - speak or write in generalities blabber, palaver, piffle, prate, prattle, tattle, tittle-tattle, twaddle, gabble, gibber, blab, clack, maunder, chatter - speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly chatter - make noise as if chattering away; "The magpies were chattering in the trees" open up - talk freely and without inhibition murmur - speak softly or indistinctly; "She murmured softly to the baby in her arms" slur - utter indistinctly bark - speak in an unfriendly tone; "She barked into the dictaphone" bay - utter in deep prolonged tones cackle - talk or utter in a cackling manner; "The women cackled when they saw the movie star step out of the limousine" babble - utter meaningless sounds, like a baby, or utter in an incoherent way; "The old man is only babbling--don't pay attention" intone, tone, chant - utter monotonously and repetitively and rhythmically; "The students chanted the same slogan over and over again" gulp - utter or make a noise, as when swallowing too quickly; "He gulped for help after choking on a big piece of meat" sing - produce tones with the voice; "She was singing while she was cooking"; "My brother sings very well" | |
| 4. | utter - put into circulation; "utter counterfeit currency" pass around, circulate, distribute, pass on - cause be distributed; "This letter is being circulated among the faculty" | |
| Adj. | 1. | utter - without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers; "an arrant fool"; "a complete coward"; "a consummate fool"; "a double-dyed villain"; "gross negligence"; "a perfect idiot"; "pure folly"; "what a sodding mess"; "stark staring mad"; "a thoroughgoing villain"; "utter nonsense"; "the unadulterated truth" arrant, double-dyed, sodding, staring, perfect, pure, everlasting, thoroughgoing, unadulterated, consummate, complete, stark, gross unmitigated - not diminished or moderated in intensity or severity; sometimes used as an intensifier; "unmitigated suffering"; "an unmitigated horror"; "an unmitigated lie" |
| 2. | utter - complete; "came to a dead stop"; "utter seriousness" complete - having every necessary or normal part or component or step; "a complete meal"; "a complete wardrobe"; "a complete set of the Britannica"; "a complete set of china"; "a complete defeat"; "a complete accounting" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
utter
1verb say, state, speak, voice, express, deliver, declare, mouth, breathe, pronounce, articulate, enunciate, put into words, verbalize, vocalize They departed without uttering a word.
utter
2adjective absolute, complete, total, perfect, positive, pure, sheer, stark, outright, all-out, thorough, downright, real, consummate, veritable, unqualified, out-and-out, unadulterated, unmitigated, thoroughgoing, arrant, deep-dyed (usually derogatory) A look of utter confusion swept across his handsome face.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
utter 1
verb1. To produce or make (speech sounds):
utter 2
adjectiveCompletely such, without qualification or exception:
absolute, all-out, arrant, complete, consummate, crashing, damned, dead, downright, flat, out-and-out, outright, perfect, plain, pure, sheer, thorough, thoroughgoing, total, unbounded, unequivocal, unlimited, unmitigated, unqualified, unrelieved, unreserved.
Chiefly British: blooming.
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
كُلّي، مُطْلَق، تامنطق (ب)يَنْطُق، يَتَفَوَّه
naprostýpronéstvydat
fuldstændigudstødeytre
äärimmäinenhouriapäästääsanoatäydellinen
alger, fullkominngefa frá sér hljóî; segja
absolūtsgalīgsizdvestizteiktpilnīgs
izrečiizustiti
fullständigrenyttra
utter
1 [ˈʌtəʳ] ADJ → completo, total; [madness] → puro; [fool] → perfectoutter nonsense! → ¡tonterías!
it was an utter disaster → fue un desastre total
he was in a state of utter depression → estaba completamente deprimido
utter
2 [ˈʌtəʳ] VT1. [+ words] → pronunciar; [+ cry] → dar, soltar; [+ threat, insult etc] → proferir; [+ libel] → publicar
she never uttered a word → no dijo nada or (ni una) palabra
don't utter a word about it → no le digas nada a nadie
she never uttered a word → no dijo nada or (ni una) palabra
don't utter a word about it → no le digas nada a nadie
2. (Jur) [+ counterfeit money] → poner en circulación, expender
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
utter
[ˈʌtər]Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
utter
1adj → total, vollkommen; rogue, drunkard → unverbesserlich; disgust, misery → grenzenlos; disbelief → total; despair → total, absolut; a complete and utter waste of time → eine totale Zeitverschwendung; with utter certainty/conviction → mit absoluter Sicherheit/Überzeugung; an utter stranger → ein Wildfremder m, → eine Wildfremde; what utter nonsense! → so ein totaler Blödsinn! (inf)
utter
2vt
(= say) → von sich (dat) → geben; word → sagen; word of complaint → äußern; cry, sigh, threat → ausstoßen; libel → verbreiten
(form) forged money → in Umlauf bringen; cheque → ausstellen
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
utter
1 [ˈʌtəʳ] adj (disaster, silence) → totale, assoluto/a; (madness) → puro/a; (fool) → perfetto/athat's utter nonsense → sono tutte sciocchezze
utter
2 [ˈʌtəʳ] vt (groan, sigh) → emettere; (cry, insult) → lanciare; (word) → pronunciare, proferireshe never uttered a word → non ha fiatato
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
utter1
(ˈatə) adjective complete or total. There was utter silence; utter darkness.
ˈutterly adverb completely or totally. She was utterly unaware of her danger.
utter2
(ˈatə) verb to produce (sounds, eg cries, words etc) with the mouth. She uttered a sigh of relief; She didn't utter a single word of encouragement.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.