Cool MateAnnounce vs Broadcast vs Communicate vs Declare vs Proclaim
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Announce
Broadcast
Communicate
Declare
Proclaim
| Announce | Broadcast | Communicate | Declare | Proclaim | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈnaʊns/","/əˈnaʊnsɪz/","/əˈnaʊnst/","/əˈnaʊnsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈnaʊns/","/əˈnaʊnsɪz/","/əˈnaʊnst/","/əˈnaʊnsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈbrɔːdkɑːst/","/ˈbrɔːdkɑːsts/","/ˈbrɔːdkɑːstɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈbrɔːdkæst/","/ˈbrɔːdkæsts/","/ˈbrɔːdkæstɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/","/kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪts/","/kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪtɪd/","/kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪtɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪt/","/kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪts/","/kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪtɪd/","/kəˈmjuːnɪkeɪtɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/dɪˈkleə(r)/","/dɪˈkleəz/","/dɪˈkleəd/","/dɪˈkleərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/dɪˈkler/","/dɪˈklerz/","/dɪˈklerd/","/dɪˈklerɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/prəˈkleɪm/","/prəˈkleɪmz/","/prəˈkleɪmd/","/prəˈkleɪmɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/prəˈkleɪm/","/prəˈkleɪmz/","/prəˈkleɪmd/","/prəˈkleɪmɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To make something known to many people | To send out information or programs to a lot of people. | To share information or ideas with others. | To say something officially or publicly. | To announce or say something publicly. |
| Example | They will announce the results of the competition tomorrow. | The concert will be **broadcast live** *(= at the same time as it takes place)* tomorrow evening. | It's important to communicate your ideas clearly to others. | The president will declare the new policy during the press conference. | The president will proclaim a national holiday to celebrate the country's independence. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Formal | Formal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B2 | A2 | B2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | verb | verb | verb |
| Collocations | formally, officially, publicly, be expected to, expect to, be delighted to, to, formally, officially, publicly, be expected to, expect to, be delighted to, to | live, nationally, originally, from, to | clearly, effectively, successfully, by, through, to | virtually, immediately, promptly, to, virtually, immediately, promptly, to | loudly, formally, officially, seem to, continue to, as, to, loudly, formally, officially, seem to, continue to, as, to |
| Antonyms | conceal, hide | suppress, withhold | conceal, withhold, silence | deny, disclaim, suppress | conceal, suppress, withhold |
| Common mistakes | Confusing it with 'notify'; 'announce' is more public, Using it without an object; 'announce' needs something to announce, Using it in passive voice incorrectly; it is usually active | Confused with 'cast' as a noun., Using 'broadcasted' instead of 'broadcast' for past forms., Confusing with 'stream' in the context of online content. | Using 'communicate' without an object (e.g., 'I communicate' instead of 'I communicate my ideas')., Confusing 'communicate' with 'communicative' which has a different meaning., Incorrectly conjugating the verb in different tenses. | Using 'declare' without an object (e.g., 'I declare' alone is often incomplete), Confusing 'declare' with 'proclaim' which has a different nuance, Saying 'declaring for' instead of 'declaring to be' when stating identity or status | Confused with 'declare' – both mean to make known, but 'proclaim' sounds more public., Using 'proclaim' in casual settings where simpler words work better., Omitting the object – remember to say what is being proclaimed. |
| Usage notes | Use 'announce' for formal and neutral contexts, such as public speeches or official statements. Avoid in very casual situations. | Use 'broadcast' when referring to media like TV or radio. It's suitable for formal and neutral contexts but can feel out of place in very casual conversations. | Used in both formal and informal contexts. Can refer to spoken, written, or non-verbal communication. Avoid in very casual situations where simpler words might be more effective. | Used in formal contexts such as legal, government, or academic settings. Avoid in casual conversations. Commonly used when making announcements or stating intentions. | Used in speeches or declarations. It sounds formal, so it's best for official or serious contexts; less appropriate for casual conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Announce vs Broadcast vs Communicate vs Declare vs Proclaim
What's the difference between Announce, Broadcast, Communicate, Declare, and Proclaim?
Announce: To make something known to many people Broadcast: To send out information or programs to a lot of people. Communicate: To share information or ideas with others. Declare: To say something officially or publicly. Proclaim: To announce or say something publicly.
Which is more advanced: Announce, Broadcast, Communicate, Declare, and Proclaim?
Proclaim is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Announce, Broadcast, Communicate, Declare, and Proclaim the same CEFR level?
Announce: B1, Broadcast: B2, Communicate: A2, Declare: B2, Proclaim: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Announce, Broadcast, Communicate, Declare, and Proclaim?
Announce: verb, Broadcast: verb, Communicate: verb, Declare: verb, Proclaim: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Announce: They will announce the results of the competition tomorrow. Broadcast: The concert will be **broadcast live** *(= at the same time as it takes place)* tomorrow evening. Communicate: It's important to communicate your ideas clearly to others. Declare: The president will declare the new policy during the press conference. Proclaim: The president will proclaim a national holiday to celebrate the country's independence.
Can I use Announce, Broadcast, Communicate, Declare, and Proclaim interchangeably?
Not always. Announce, Broadcast, Communicate, Declare, and Proclaim are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.