vocalize

verb

vo·​cal·​ize ˈvō-kə-ˌlīz How to pronounce vocalize (audio)
vocalized; vocalizing

transitive verb

1
: to give voice to : utter
specifically : sing
2
a
: to make voiced rather than voiceless : voice
b
: to convert to a vowel
3
: to furnish (something, such as a consonantal Hebrew or Arabic text) with vowels or vowel points

intransitive verb

1
: to utter vocal sounds
2
: sing
specifically : to sing without words
vocalization noun
vocalizer noun

Examples of vocalize in a Sentence

The male bird vocalizes to attract a mate. she's not one to vocalize her worries
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Queen Latifah also vocalized her support for the Harris-Tim Walz ticket, tying the Democratic duo’s plan for small businesses and early career entrepreneurs to her own backstory as founder of Flavor Unit Entertainment at 19. Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 3 Nov. 2024 Decision fatigue may keep people from vocalizing their unhappiness and identifying a way out. Justin Tobin, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 Mulaney has also vocalized his excitement over being a new dad. Georgia Slater, Peoplemag, 22 Sep. 2024 Harrington also vocalized her excitement on the appointment of Black scholar Jonathan Michael Square as a committee member for this year’s exhibition. Taylor Crumpton, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vocalize 

Word History

First Known Use

1669, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of vocalize was in 1669

Dictionary Entries Near vocalize

Cite this Entry

“Vocalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vocalize. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

vocalize

verb
vo·​cal·​ize ˈvō-kə-ˌlīz How to pronounce vocalize (audio)
vocalized; vocalizing
: to give voice to
especially : sing entry 1 sense 1a
vocalizer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on vocalize

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!