spoken

American  

[spoh-kuhn] / ˈspoʊ kən /

verb

1. a past participle of speak.

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adjective

1. uttered or expressed by speaking; oral (opposed to written).

   the spoken word.

2. speaking, or using speech, as specified (usually used in combination).

   fair-spoken; plain-spoken; soft-spoken.

spoken British  

/ ˈspəʊkən /

verb

1. the past participle of speak

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adjective

1. uttered through the medium of speech Compare written

2. (in combination) having speech as specified

   soft-spoken

3. engaged, reserved, or allocated

Etymology

Origin of spoken

First recorded in 1570–80, for the adjective

Explanation

Anything that's spoken is said out loud. "Spoken word" is a genre of poetry that is meant to be recited and performed in front of an audience. Spoken is the past participle of the verb speak, but it's also an adjective that describes things that are uttered or said or articulated or voiced. It's often used in combination with another adjective, like a soft-spoken friend or a blunt-spoken teacher. It can also distinguish one thing from a written version: "I'm taking a spoken exam instead of a written one, so I should do fine."

Example Sentences

Spoken word poet Duke Al was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes aged 23 in 2018.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

Spoken with earnest confusion, McDormand’s line pierces the heart.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2026

Spoken like a woman who knows what she wants in life and isn’t about to compromise.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 21, 2024

Spoken by most residents of Wadeye, a town of 2,500 people on Australia's northwestern coast, the language has many fascinating characteristics.

From Scientific American • Oct. 18, 2023

Spoken conversation is instinctive because social interaction is instinctive: we speak to those with whom we are on speaking terms.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker