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Glite Dictionary
to utter a word

to utter a word

4 4.1
To say any words, often used with not to mean say nothing
  • idiom
  • /ˈʌtər ə wɜrd/
translation icon : decir una palabra
  • I was too shocked to utter a word during the meeting.
  • never utter a word
  • unable to utter a word
  • barely utter a word

Before he could utter a word, she was out the door.

Examples

  • He still hasn't uttered a word.

    Faces in the Crowd (2011)

  • I was given strict orders not to utter a word of this to anyone.

    My Mom's New Boyfriend (2008)

  • Before he could utter a word, she was out the door.

    I've Had It

  • Not until we reached the house did we utter a word to each other.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • There would be the seven slow miles home then, and maybe, probably, no one would utter a word.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • For a while, neither of them uttered a word.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Elizabeth Stone had not uttered a word during the meeting.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Hannah did not utter a word until she was 11 years old.

    A Cure for Wellness (2017)

  • I don't even have the strength to utter a word.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • You haven't uttered a word ever since we've sat down at table.

    Night Must Fall (1937)

Synonyms

to say
vsto utter a word
∞ 1.0

Speak words to show information or feelings

is used for even a single vocal act and often implies silence
to talk
vsto utter a word
∞ 1.0

Speak with someone to share ideas or information

is about a single vocal item, not an informal extended exchange
to speak
vsto utter a word
∞ 1.0

To talk with someone to share thoughts or feelings

is focused on a single small vocal act rather than ongoing conversation
to utter
vsto utter a word
107 2.9

To say something aloud

is often used with negatives to mean remain completely silent
to enounce
vsto utter a word
9.9

To pronounce words or syllables clearly

is about producing any sound and often means total silence in negatives

Antonyms

to keep quiet
90 2.5

To say nothing or not tell a secret

How Much

to shout
644 1.0
to speak up
43 2.0
to utter a word
4 4.1

Surface Forms

utter a word infinitive
uttered a word past
uttered a word past participle
uttering a word present participle
utters a word third person singular

Morphology

utter + a + word

The phrase directly combines 'utter' (to produce or express words) with 'a word' (a single brief utterance), so its sense 'to say anything / to speak even a single word' is transparently derivable by a learner who knows the constituents. It follows a standard verb + object composition and is commonly used in negative contexts ('didn't utter a word'), a pattern found in many languages, making it immediately comprehensible to B1 learners.

Etymology

Utter a word comes from the old use of utter meaning 'to speak'. Imagine someone so shocked or upset that they cannot even let one word out of their mouth; that's why the phrase often means 'to say nothing'.