SKIP TO CONTENT

perorate

/ˌpɛrəˈreɪt/
IPA guide

Other forms: perorated; perorating; perorates

To perorate is to give a long, pompous speech. If you were expecting your teacher's remarks at the beginning of class to be a quick announcement, your heart will sink when he begins to perorate.

There are two ways to use this somewhat old-fashioned word. The first is as a near-synonym of "orate," although to perorate is to give an even more flowery, pretentious speech than a mere oration. If you perorate when it's your turn to comment at a town meeting, it's unlikely you'll be taken seriously. An older meaning of perorate is to end a long speech with a summary of your main points.

Definitions of perorate
  1. verb
    conclude a speech with a formal recapitulation
    see moresee less
    type of:
    conclude
    bring to a close
  2. verb
    deliver an oration in grandiloquent style
    see moresee less
    type of:
    declaim, recite
    recite in elocution
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘perorate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family