What does "utter" mean?
The thing which is most utter (adjective sense) or extreme.
Utter
/ˈʌtə/ adj, adv, name, noun, verb
adj, adv, name, noun, verb ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The thing which is most utter (adjective sense) or extreme.
- Grammar: utter is listed as adj, adv, name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: emit, say, speak, verbalize.
- Useful contrasts: conceal, incomplete, limited.
- Usage evidence: So great was his emotion that he could not utter a word.
How to use "utter"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "utter" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "utter" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "utter" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "utter" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "utter" is acting as adj, adv, name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "emit" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "utter", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The thing which is most utter (adjective sense) or extreme. rare, uncountable
"I take my leave, readie to countervaile all your courtesies to the utter of my power."
Verb
- 1 Senses relating to expressing sounds, etc., or disclosing something; Sometimes preceded by forth, out, etc.: to produce (a cry, speech, or other sounds) with the voice. transitive
"Don’t you utter another word!"
- 2 articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise wordnet
- 3 Senses relating to expressing sounds, etc., or disclosing something; To verbally express or report (a desire or emotion, an idea or thought, etc.). transitive
"Theeſe woords, vplifting both his hands, he to Iuppiter vttred."
- 4 express in speech wordnet
- 5 Senses relating to expressing sounds, etc., or disclosing something; To express (oneself) in speech or writing. reflexive, transitive
"[N]ovv and then nature is a fault, and this good gueſt of ours takes ſoyle in an unperfect body, and ſo is ſlackned from ſhevving her vvonders, like an excellent Muſician vvhich cannot utter himſelf upon a defective inſtrument."
Show 17 more definitions
- 6 express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words) wordnet
- 7 Senses relating to expressing sounds, etc., or disclosing something; Of a thing: to produce (a noise or sound); to emit. figuratively, transitive
"Sally’s car uttered a hideous shriek when she applied the brakes."
- 8 put into circulation wordnet
- 9 Senses relating to expressing sounds, etc., or disclosing something; To disclose or reveal (something secret or unknown); to bring to light. obsolete, transitive
"He that vttereth my counſayle ones I wyll neuer truſte hym whyle I lyue: […]"
- 10 Senses relating to expressing sounds, etc., or disclosing something; To disclose or reveal the identity or nature of (oneself or someone, or something). also, obsolete, reflexive, transitive
"[W]hẽ the vnclene ſpritꝭ ſawe him⸝ they fell doune before him⸝ and cryed ſayinge: thou arte the ſonne of God: And he ſtreyghtly charged thẽ that they ſhulde not vtter him."
- 11 Senses relating to expressing sounds, etc., or disclosing something; To display or show (itself or something). also, obsolete, reflexive, transitive
"[H]e [Jesus] ſhewed and vſed hymſelfe the moſte loweſt and meaneſte of al creatures, yet dyd he hyde within hym a ſecrete power of the nature of the godhed, which thã [than (i.e., then)] ⁊ neuer afore vttred it ſelfe, whan the grayne of his bodye was bruiſed on the croſſe: ⁊ was in deathe (as it were) burried within the grounde."
- 12 Senses relating to expressing sounds, etc., or disclosing something; To speak. intransitive
"The Souereyne and vnutterable God, is the Originall of all things; next vnto vvhom is his Prouidence as a ſecond God, vvho giueth the lavv aſvvell for the temporall as for the eternall life. And furthermore, there is a third ſubſtance as a ſecond Vnderſtanding, vvhich is the keeper of the ſayd eternall Lavve. The higheſt God commaundeth, the ſecond ordereth, and the third vttereth or publiſheth."
- 13 Senses relating to expressing sounds, etc., or disclosing something; Of words, etc.: to be spoken. intransitive
"[Y]ea many gods, / Had voices more than all the winds, with power / To exhilarate the spirit, and to soothe, / Through every clime, the heart of human kind. / While this was uttering, strange as it may seem, / I wondered not, although I plainly saw / The one to be a stone, the other a shell; […]"
- 14 Senses relating to issuing something.; To publish (something). archaic, rare, transitive
"[Y]ᵉ same [the book] was well vtteryd by yᵉ printar, & well lyked of in yᵉ comon weale, […]"
- 15 Senses relating to issuing something.; To put (currency or other valuable items) into circulation; specifically, to pass off (counterfeit currency, etc.) as legal tender; to use (a forged cheque) as if genuine. transitive
"[…] Her Maiestie now vnderstandynge, that there are sithens that tyme certayne other forrayne peeces of golde, of the like quantitie and fashion (although of lesse value) lyke to an Englyshe Angell, brought hyther, and here vttered and payde for ten shyllynges of syluer, beyng for they lacke of wayght, and for the basenesse of the allay, not worth. vii. shillinges, to the great deceite and losse of the subiectes of this her Realme: […] her good subiects may eyther vtterly forbeare to receyue any such forrayne Angels, or els to take them accordyng to theyr waight as bullion, and to bryng them to her Maiesties Mynte, where they shall haue redy money in golde or syluer at theyr pleasure, accordyng to the iust value thereof."
- 16 Senses relating to issuing something.; To put (currency or other valuable items) into circulation; specifically, to pass off (counterfeit currency, etc.) as legal tender; to use (a forged cheque) as if genuine.; To pass off (something fake) as a genuine item. figuratively, transitive
"Centaure, hovv our iudgements vvere impos'd on by theſe adulterate knights! / Cen[taure]. Nay, madame, Mavis vvas more deceiu'd then vve, 'tvvas her commendation vtter'd 'hem in the colledge."
- 17 Senses relating to issuing something.; To supply (something); to furnish, to provide. obsolete, transitive
"[T]he mixt earth, vvhich vtters VVhinns, Briars, and a vvorld of ſuch like vnnatural and baſtardly Iſſues."
- 18 Senses relating to issuing something.; To offer (something, such as goods) for barter or sale; also, to sell (something); to vend. obsolete, transitive
"[…] certayne Merchants […] obteyned licence ſafely to arriue here in Ireland with their wares, and to vtter the ſame."
- 19 Senses relating to issuing something.; To announce that (something) is available for sale; to cry. obsolete, rare, transitive
"[Y]ou are […] compelled, during the whole morning, to undergo that savage jargon of yells, brays, and screams, familiarly, but feebly, termed, "the Cries of London"— […] your utter incapability of ever arriving at the slightest smattering in any of the infernal dialects in which their goods are uttered, and which they have palpably invented for the sole purpose of guarding against the smallest risk of being, by any accident, understood;—and thus is a new Misery struck out for you, […]"
- 20 Senses relating to issuing something.; To distribute or issue (something) from, or as if from, a stock of items. obsolete, rare, transitive
"He had alſo ſet a prieſt of his and a ſeculer ſeruaunt of his beſyde to by [buy] many of the ſame ſuyte [of books], & double and treble of one ſorte, whiche were by thẽ [them] vttred to diuers yonge ſcholers ſuch as thei founde properly witted, feately lerned, and newfangly mynded."
- 21 Senses relating to issuing something.; To discharge or send out (something); to eject, to emit. dialectal, transitive
"God proſper you, to the uttering all hollovv Harts of England."
- 22 Senses relating to issuing something.; Of goods: to be purchased; to sell. intransitive, obsolete
"This crockery is popular and utters well."
Adjective
- 1 To the furthest or most extreme extent; absolute, complete, total, unconditional.
"utter bliss utter darkness utter ruin"
- 2 Of a substance: pure, unmixed. rare
"Two cups of utter silver wrought and rough with imagery / I give you, which my father took from wracked Arisbe's hold; […]"
- 3 Of decisions, replies, etc.: made in an unconditional or unqualified manner; decisive, definite.
"There could not then be any other eſtimate made of the loſs VValler ſuſtain'd, than by the not purſuing the viſible advantage he had, and by the utter refuſal of the Auxiliary Regiments of London and Kent, to march farther; […]"
- 4 Further out than another thing; being the exterior or outer part of something; outer, outward; also, extremely remote. obsolete, poetic
"at the utter extremities of"
- 5 Preceding all others; original. obsolete, rare
"And although it [Persia] has ſince then been ruined and reigned ouer by Princes of many Nations, yet they haue neuer altered the Dialect from its vtter ſence, at this day being cald Pharſee: […]"
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Succeeding all others; final, last, ultimate. obsolete, rare
"Our vtter houre is come alas, fell deſtinies death hath brought."
Adjective
- 1 complete and absolute wordnet
- 2 without qualification; used informally as (often pejorative) intensifiers wordnet
Adverb
- 1 Further apart, away, or out; outside, without. not-comparable, obsolete
"A strawe, sayde Bele, stande vtter, / For we haue egges and butter, / And of pygeons a payre."
- 2 To an extreme extent; altogether, quite. not-comparable, obsolete
"I knovv they vvill deny me gracious Madame, / Being a ſtranger, and ſo little fam'd / So vtter emptie of theſe excellencies / That tame authority; […]"
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Antonyms
Example
"So great was his emotion that he could not utter a word."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "utter"?
Common synonyms include: emit, say, speak, verbalize, vocalize, abject.
How do you use "utter" in a sentence?
So great was his emotion that he could not utter a word.
How do you pronounce "utter"?
Pronounced /ˈʌtə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
PIE word *úd The adjective is derived from Middle English outre, utter, uttre (“situated on the outside of, exterior”), from Old English ūtera (“exterior, outer”, literally “more out”), the comparative form of ūt (“out”). Piecewise doublet of outer. The noun is derived from the adjective.
Etymology 2
PIE word *úd From Middle English outren, utteren (“to display for sale; to market; to sell; to say, speak; to put into words, express, tell; to make known, reveal”), partly: * from outre, utter (adjective, adverb) (see etymology 1 and etymology 3) + -en (suffix forming the infinitives of verbs); and * from Middle Dutch uteren (“to announce, make known”) (modern Dutch uiteren); or from Middle Low German üteren, ütern (“to demonstrate, show; to speak; to sell; etc.”) (modern Low German ütern), from Old Dutch or Old Saxon ūtan, probably from Proto-West Germanic *ūtanā (“from outside or without; outside of”). Compare Middle High German ūzeren, whence German äußern (“to express, say, utter”))
Etymology 3
PIE word *úd From Middle English outre, utter (“away, out; further away or out; out in the open; outside, without; to a greater extent”), partly: * from outre, utter (adjective) (see etymology 1); and * from Old English ūtor, the comparative form of ūt (“out; outdoors, outside”, adverb).