vocalize

verb

vo·​cal·​ize ˈvō-kə-ˌlīz 

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

ˌvō-kə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

vocalizer

ˈvō-kə-ˌlī-zər 

noun

Synonyms

• articulate
• bring out
• enunciate
• pass
• say
• speak
• state
• talk
• tell
• utter
• verbalize

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

Now Musk, who President Donald Trump tapped to head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has vocalized support for tax incentives for mothers. —Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025

Following Hinchcliffe’s comments about Puerto Rico, several Latin stars vocalized their support for Harris, including Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony and The View host Ana Navarro, among others. —Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Oct. 2024

This is not the first time Gomez has vocalized her concern for immigration policies under Trump’s leadership. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 28 Jan. 2025

They are also asked to vocalize, breathing into microphones and uttering nonverbal syllables. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1669, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for vocalize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Kids Definition

vocalize

verb

vo·​cal·​ize ˈvō-kə-ˌlīz 

vocalized; vocalizing

: to give voice to

especially : sing entry 1 sense 1a

vocalizer

ˈvō-kə-ˌlī-zər 

noun