utterance

utterance — noun

1. a spoken word, phrase, or remark — especially one that communicates what the spe

1.名詞B2
釋義

a spoken word, phrase, or remark — especially one that communicates what the speaker thinks or feels in a particular moment

例句

Min's first utterance of the day was a quiet complaint about the cold coffee.

possessive + utterance + of + noun phrase

The politician's careless utterance during the interview sparked a wave of criticism online.

adjective + utterance (careless)

同義詞
  • remark

    more everyday; something said in passing

  • statement

    more official or deliberate; often written or prepared

  • comment

    an opinion or reaction regarding something specific

  • expression

    broader — can be verbal or non-verbal

反義詞

文法句型

utterance + preposition + of + noun phrase

possessive + utterance

adjective + utterance

用法筆記

More formal and academic than everyday words like 'remark' or 'statement'. In linguistics, it refers to any stretch of spoken language — a word, phrase, or sentence — considered in its context.

常見錯誤

❌He made a long utterance at the meeting.
✅He made a long speech at the meeting.
💡'utterance' is usually a single short spoken unit; for a long formal talk, use 'speech' or 'address.'

2. the act or process of producing spoken language in order to communicate thoughts

2.名詞B2
釋義

the act or process of producing spoken language in order to communicate thoughts, ideas, or feelings — the expression in words rather than in writing or gesture

例句

After her stroke, Kuniko spent months in therapy learning to produce a clear utterance.

produce + a[n] + clear utterance (countable)

Hari's utterance of the ancient blessing brought tears to the eyes of the guests.

utterance + of + specific thing (blessing)

同義詞
  • speech

    broader term; includes the physical ability and the system of spoken language

  • vocalization

    more technical; any sound produced by the voice, not necessarily meaningful

  • expression

    broader — can include writing, art, or gesture

反義詞
  • silence

    the absence of vocal expression

  • writing

    communication through written symbols rather than speech

文法句型

utterance + of + noun phrase + in + noun phrase

用法筆記

Often used in formal, literary, or academic contexts. The uncountable form (without 'an') focuses on the general activity of speaking; the countable form ('an utterance') focuses on a specific instance. The fixed expression 'give utterance to (+ something)' means 'to express something openly.'

常見錯誤

❌She gave utterance to the bus stop.
✅She gave utterance to her concerns about the bus stop.
💡'give utterance to' must be followed by an abstract thing being expressed (thoughts, feelings, opinions), not a concrete location.