proclaims

/prəˈkleɪmz/ · pruh-KLAYMZverb

Declares or announces something publicly, formally, or emphatically.

Use proclaims to express this relationship precisely: declares or announces something publicly, formally, or emphatically.

What proclaims Really Means

The word becomes easier to use when its closely related senses are separated and compared.

1

Core action

Declares or announces something publicly, formally, or emphatically.

Example

The inscription proclaims the ruler's victory.

2

Common construction

Use this expression in its normal grammatical frame so the relationship between the surrounding ideas remains explicit.

Example

The manifesto proclaims equality as its central principle.

3

Reasoning effect

It tells the reader how to interpret the timing, scope, evidence, contrast, condition, or consequence in the statement.

Example

The headline proclaims a result the article later qualifies.

Use proclaims Naturally

Notice how the surrounding noun or clause reveals the exact shade of meaning.

The inscription proclaims the ruler's victory.

The manifesto proclaims equality as its central principle.

The headline proclaims a result the article later qualifies.

Precision Matters

Proclaims overlaps with several common words, but each carries a different emphasis.

proclaims

Means declares or announces something publicly, formally, or emphatically.

vs.
allude

Means refer to someone or something indirectly rather than naming or explaining it explicitly.

proclaims

Means declares or announces something publicly, formally, or emphatically.

vs.
query

Means ask a question about something, especially to obtain information or challenge its accuracy.

proclaims

Means declares or announces something publicly, formally, or emphatically.

vs.
suppress

Means prevent, restrain, stop, or keep something from being expressed, revealed, or developing.

proclaims

Means declares or announces something publicly, formally, or emphatically.

vs.
emphatic

Means expressed with force, certainty, or special emphasis; unmistakably strong.

Test proclaims in Context

It declares the judgment publicly and emphatically.

1

The opening sentence ___ the discovery to be the most important of the decade.

Prepared byFirst Academy
Editorial responsibilityFirst Academy Academic Team
Updated3 August 2026
Selection and reviewRead our methodology