[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/utterance/)

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# utterance

noun (an utterance, utterances); verb utter (utter, utters, uttered, uttering)

«utterance» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) An utterance is something that someone says: a word, a phrase or a sentence spoken aloud. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/utterance/#m1)
2. (formal) Utterance is the act of saying something aloud: give utterance to your feelings. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/utterance/#m2)

### In the lessons

A formal word in language study (linguistics) and exams: each thing a person says in a conversation is an utterance. In stories, a character's last utterance or a strange utterance. Plain words: words, what someone said.

### Examples

- The baby's first utterance was «Mama». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/utterance/#x1)
- Every utterance in the play was written down. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/utterance/#x2)
- Linguists record people's utterances to study language. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/utterance/#x3)
- His only utterance was a quiet «thank you». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/utterance/#x4)
- She gave utterance to her anger. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/utterance/#x5)
- Each line in the conversation is one utterance. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/utterance/#x6)
- The Savannah negro here gave utterance to a loud, contemptuous laugh, and began to fumble somewhat ostentatiously with a big brass watch-chain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/utterance/#x7)

### Note

Formal; in speech say «what she said». Use «an utterance» (vowel sound). From the verb «utter» (to say). The adjective «utter» means complete (utter nonsense) — a different word.

## In Jewish tradition

What the lips speak. A vow is made binding by the words said aloud.

**Interpretation.** The rabbis read that spoken words have the power to bind a person, so a vow must be kept exactly as said.

### Examples

- And if she be married to a husband, while her vows are upon her, or the clear utterance of her lips, wherewith she hath bound her soul; (Torah NUM.30.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/utterance/#x1)
- Yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that announceth, yea, there is none that heareth your utterances. (Prophets ISA.41.26, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/utterance/#x2)

### Note

Formal; in speech say «what she said». Use «an utterance» (vowel sound). From the verb «utter» (to say). The adjective «utter» means complete (utter nonsense) — a different word.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «utterance» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/U/utterance/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«utterance» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/utterance.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «utterance» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/U/utterance/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«utterance» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/utterance.html) on Mova free.