Standard Lemma guide

bloviate

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈbloʊ.viˌeɪt/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To speak or discourse at length in a pompous or boastful manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

orate verbosely and windily

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: orate

History

Etymology

1845, US, Ohio, from blow (“speak idly, boast”) + -i- + -ate, by analogy with deviate.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Dutch: oreren — to speak or discourse at length in a pompous or boastful manner
  • German: schwafeln — to speak or discourse at length in a pompous or boastful manner
  • Italian: concionare — to speak or discourse at length in a pompous or boastful manner
  • Romanian: a te lungi — to speak or discourse at length in a pompous or boastful manner
  • Romanian: a te lungi cu vorba — to speak or discourse at length in a pompous or boastful manner
  • Russian: почесать язы́к (počesatʹ jazýk) — to speak or discourse at length in a pompous or boastful manner