utter
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.used to emphasize that something is complete or total, usually something bad.
adj.used as an intensifier to indicate that a quality or state is complete, absolute, or extreme.
Simple“The whole situation was an utter disaster from start to finish.”
In context“To the board's utter astonishment, the CEO resigned without providing any justification or naming a successor.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
v.to say something or to make a sound with your voice.
v.to produce a sound or word with the vocal organs; to give audible expression to something.
Simple“She sat there in shock and did not utter a single word.”
In context“The witness refused to utter a sound during the cross-examination, despite the prosecutor's increasingly aggressive questioning.”
UsageThis verb is transitive and requires a direct object, such as a word, a cry, or a sound.
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
v.to use or give someone a fake document or fake money as if it were real.
v.to put into circulation a forged document, banknote, or security with the intent to defraud.
Simple“He was charged with trying to utter a counterfeit hundred-dollar bill.”
In context“The defendant was indicted on two counts of forgery and one count of attempting to utter a fraudulent cheque at the local branch.”
UsageOften appears in the legal phrase 'uttering a forged instrument'.
Teacher's tipThis sense is highly specialized; students will likely only encounter it in legal reports or crime fiction.