DictionaryAI

announce

verb
Sayuh-NOWNS/əˈnaʊn(t)s/UK/əˈnaʊns/

Formsannounces, announcing, announced

3 meanings of announce

Practice

  1. 1
    make knownverbtransitive
    To make something known publicly or formally, often for the first time, such as news, a plan, a decision, or a verdict.

    Officials will announce the new transit policy at a press conference next week.

    The company announced record profits in its quarterly earnings report.

    UsageThe hearers follow to: announce the news to the staff. Often announce that + a clause.

    Note

    The verb carries a messenger inside it. Old French anoncier comes from Latin annūntiāre, built on nūntius, "messenger, bearer of news," the same family as nuncio and annunciate. Fittingly, whatever announces need not be a person. In William Gilpin's Observations (1786), a peal of cannon announces Queen Elizabeth's arrival, and a servant announcing dinner is the same verb at the drawing-room door.

  2. 2
    signalverbtransitive
    To serve as a sign that someone or something has arrived, or is about to arrive or take place.

    The first crocuses announce the end of winter in our garden.

    A sharp knock at the door announced the arrival of the police.

    UsageThe subject is usually the sign itself; often announce the arrival, the start or the end of something.

    Similarherald, signal, mark

  3. 3
    broadcastverbUStransitive or intransitive
    To work as an announcer, especially by describing a sports event or presenting a radio or television broadcast.

    The network hired her to announce the playoff series this fall.

    He announced minor-league games for a decade before reaching the majors.

    UsageThe object is the event: announce the games. With no object it names the job: announce for a local station.

    Note

    Here the verb names a role sustained across a whole game or broadcast, not a single piece of information delivered once.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of announce apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Old French anoncier, from Latin annūntiāre ("to report"), formed from ad plus nūntiō ("to report, relate"), which comes from nūntius ("messenger, bearer of news").

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 6 facts