Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ostentate

/ˈɒstənteɪt/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: os-ten-tate
IPA: /ˈɒstənteɪt/

9

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To make an ambitious display of; to exhibit or show boastingly.

Transitive verb

verb

To boast, show off.

Intransitive verb; Obsolete

Example Sentences

"It cannot avoid the brand of arrogancy, as well as hypocrisy, to challenge and ostentate that beauty or handsomeness of complexion as ours, which indeed is none of ours by any genuine right or property."
"Society insisted that it was bad form to ostentate one's sickness unnecessarily."

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin ostentātus, perfect passive participle of ostentō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), intensive from ostendō. Doublet of ostent.

Usage

Inflected Forms

ostentates (present, singular) ostentating (participle, present) ostentated (participle, past) ostentated (past)

Synonyms

ostent exhibitionize swagger aura farm boulevardier cut a wide swath cut it fat cut round figure away flamboast flaunt flex

Questions

How do you pronounce ostentate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɒstənteɪt/.
What does ostentate mean?: To make an ambitious display of; to exhibit or show boastingly.
Where does ostentate come from?: Borrowed from Latin ostentātus, perfect passive participle of ostentō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), intensive from ostendō. Doublet of ostent.

How to pronounce ostentate

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