Announce vs I'm putting the word out

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Announce

Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb

I'm putting the word out

Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Announce
 AnnounceI'm putting the word out
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/əˈnaʊns/","/əˈnaʊnsɪz/","/əˈnaʊnst/","/əˈnaʊnsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈnaʊns/","/əˈnaʊnsɪz/","/əˈnaʊnst/","/əˈnaʊnsɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //aɪm ˈpʊtɪŋ ðə wɜːd aʊt//🇺🇸 //aɪm ˈpʊtɪŋ ðə wɜrd aʊt//
MeaningTo make something known to many peopleI'm telling people about something.
ExampleThey will announce the results of the competition tomorrow.I'm putting the word out about the upcoming event to everyone I know.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsformally, officially, publicly, be expected to, expect to, be delighted to, to, formally, officially, publicly, be expected to, expect to, be delighted to, toput the word out, put the word out to, put the word out about
Antonymsconceal, hide-
Common mistakesConfusing 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 activeConfusing with 'spreading the word', which implies sharing with multiple people., Using it in formal contexts where a more polite expression is needed., Incorrectly using it in past tense without context, e.g., 'I put the word out'.
Usage notesUse 'announce' for formal and neutral contexts, such as public speeches or official statements. Avoid in very casual situations.Use this phrase when you want to announce news or information. It’s informal and works in casual contexts, but can also be suited for social media posts.

See it in real clips

Announce
I'm putting the word out

Frequently asked questions: Announce vs I'm putting the word out

What's the difference between Announce and I'm putting the word out?

Announce: To make something known to many people I'm putting the word out: I'm telling people about something.

Which is more common: Announce and I'm putting the word out?

Announce is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Announce: They will announce the results of the competition tomorrow. I'm putting the word out: I'm putting the word out about the upcoming event to everyone I know.

Can I use Announce and I'm putting the word out interchangeably?

Not always. Announce and I'm putting the word out 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.

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