Uttered

Uttered is the past tense and past participle of the verb utter. It denotes the act of saying something aloud, expressing something in words, or emitting a sound such as a word, a sigh, or a cry. In addition to spoken language, uttered can refer to the act of issuing or presenting something for use, a sense encountered in legal contexts (for example, to utter a forged instrument).

Usage and senses

The verb utter is typically transitive, taking an object as in “uttered a statement,” “uttered a word,” or “uttered a sigh.” It can describe both spoken language and audible sounds. In legal language, “to utter” can mean to issue or put into circulation, particularly with forged or fraudulent instruments. The past participle uttered is commonly used in narrative or descriptive prose to indicate completed speech or sound.

Adjective and style notes

As a participle, uttered can modify nouns (the uttered words, the uttered warning), but in many contexts English speakers prefer the noun utterance or the adjective utter (meaning complete or total) rather than the heavier phrase uttered [noun]. In everyday writing, uttered is more literary or formal; everyday alternatives include said, spoke, or expressed.

Related terms

Related words include utterance (the act of uttering; a spoken expression), utterer (one who utters), and unutterable (beyond expression). The adverbial form is utterly, meaning completely or absolutely.

Etymology

The verb derives from Old English roots associated with speech and vocalizing. The core sense has remained stable: to express or emit words or sounds aloud. The adjective sense utter meaning complete or total is historically linked but distinct from the verb’s primary sense.

See also

utterance, utterer, unutterable, utterly.