Phrase guide

declare war

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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1

verb

Meaning 1

To make a formal pronouncement, or sign a legal document, that initiates a state of war between one nation and another, usually before hostilities begin.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To announce one's intention to fiercely combat or eradicate something.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • The governor declared war on poverty.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

32 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: պատերազմ հայտարարել (paterazm haytararel) — initiate a state of war
  • Belarusian: аб'явіць вайну (abʺjavicʹ vajnu) — initiate a state of war
  • Belarusian: абвясціць вайну (abvjascicʹ vajnu) — initiate a state of war
  • Catalan: declarar la guerra — initiate a state of war
  • Chinese Mandarin: 宣戰 /宣战 (xuānzhàn) — initiate a state of war
  • Dutch: de oorlog verklaren — initiate a state of war
  • Finnish: julistaa sota — initiate a state of war
  • French: déclarer la guerre — initiate a state of war
  • German: den Krieg erklären — initiate a state of war
  • Hungarian: hadat üzen — initiate a state of war
  • Japanese: 宣戦布告する (sensen fukoku suru) — initiate a state of war
  • Korean: 선전포고하다 (seonjeonpogohada) — initiate a state of war
  • Lithuanian: paskelbti karą — initiate a state of war
  • Norman: dêcliather la dgèrre — initiate a state of war
  • Old English: cweþan ġefeoht — initiate a state of war
  • Polish: wypowiadać wojnę — initiate a state of war
  • Polish: wypowiedzieć wojnę — initiate a state of war
  • Portuguese: declarar guerra — initiate a state of war
  • Romanian: declara război — initiate a state of war
  • Russian: объяви́ть войну́ (obʺjavítʹ vojnú) — initiate a state of war
  • Spanish: declarar la guerra — initiate a state of war
  • Swedish: deklarera krig — initiate a state of war
  • Turkish: savaş ilan etmek — initiate a state of war
  • Turkish: savaş açmak — initiate a state of war
  • Vietnamese: tuyên bố chiến tranh — initiate a state of war
  • Vietnamese: tuyên chiến — initiate a state of war
  • Volapük: sagön krigi — initiate a state of war
  • Catalan: declarar la guerra — announce one's intention to fiercely combat or eradicate something
  • Chinese Mandarin: 宣戰 /宣战 (xuānzhàn) — announce one's intention to fiercely combat or eradicate something
  • Finnish: julistaa sota — announce one's intention to fiercely combat or eradicate something
  • Polish: wypowiadać wojnę — announce one's intention to fiercely combat or eradicate something
  • Polish: wypowiedzieć wojnę — announce one's intention to fiercely combat or eradicate something