speak
verb (used without object)
to utter words or articulate sounds with the ordinary voice; talk.
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speak
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-speak
-speaka combining form extracted from newspeak (coined by George Orwell in his novel,1984 ), used in the formation of compound words, usually derogatory, derisive, or facetious, that denote the style or vocabulary of a discipline, person, era, etc., as specified by the initial element.
speak
1 American
[speek]
/ spik /
verb (used without object)
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speaks,
present (3rd person singular)
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spoke,
past
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spake,
past (Archaic)
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spoken,
past participle
-
speaking
present participle
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to utter words or articulate sounds with the ordinary voice; talk.
He was too ill to speak.
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to communicate vocally; mention.
to speak to a person about various matters.
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to converse.
She spoke with him for an hour.
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to deliver an address, discourse, etc..
to speak at a meeting.
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to make a statement in written or printed words.
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to communicate, signify, or disclose something by any means; convey significance.
The voters have spoken loud and clear.
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Phonetics. to produce sounds or audible sequences of individual or concatenated sounds of a language, especially through phonation, amplification, and resonance, and through any of a variety of articulatory processes.
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(of a computer) to express data or other information audibly by means of an audio response unit.
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to emit a sound, as a musical instrument; make a noise or report.
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Chiefly British. (of dogs) to bark when ordered.
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Fox Hunting. (of a hound or pack) to bay on finding a scent.
verb (used with object)
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speaks,
present (3rd person singular)
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spoke,
past
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spake,
past (Archaic)
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spoken,
past participle
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speaking
present participle
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to utter vocally and articulately.
to speak words of praise.
- Synonyms:
- articulate, pronounce
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to express or make known with the voice.
to speak the truth.
- Synonyms:
- say
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to declare in writing or printing, or by any means of communication.
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to make known, indicate, or reveal.
- Synonyms:
- disclose
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to use, or be able to use, in oral utterance, as a language.
to speak French.
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(of a computer) to express or make known (data, prompts, etc.) by means of an audio response unit.
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Nautical. to communicate with (a passing vessel) at sea, as by voice or signal.
We spoke a whaler on the fourth day at sea.
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Archaic. to speak to or with.
verb phrase
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speak out to express one's opinion openly and unreservedly.
He was not afraid to speak out when it was something he believed in strongly.
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speak for
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to intercede for or recommend; speak in behalf of.
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to express or articulate the views of; represent.
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to choose or prefer; have reserved for oneself.
This item is already spoken for.
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speak to
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to address or respond to, as in speech or action.
The legislature must speak to the issue of gun violence.
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to be appealing or relevant to.
His music speaks to me on a very deep level.
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to provide evidence for.
Our company’s rapid growth speaks to the passion and commitment of our employees.
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idioms
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speak well for, to be an indication or reflection of (something commendable); testify admirably to.
Her manners speak well for her upbringing.
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to speak of, worth mentioning.
The country has no mineral resources to speak of.
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so to speak, to use a manner of speaking; figuratively speaking.
We still don't have our heads above water, so to speak.
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speak by the book, to say with great authority or precision.
I can't speak by the book, but I know this is wrong.
-speak
2
American
speak
1
British
/ spiːk /
verb
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to make (verbal utterances); utter (words)
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to communicate or express (something) in or as if in words
I speak the truth
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(intr) to deliver a speech, discourse, etc
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(tr) to know how to talk in (a language or dialect)
he does not speak German
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(intr) to make a characteristic sound
the clock spoke
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(intr) (of dogs, esp hounds used in hunting) to give tongue; bark
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(tr) nautical to hail and converse or communicate with (another vessel) at sea
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(intr) (of a musical instrument) to produce a sound
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to be a representative or advocate (of)
he speaks for all the members
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on good terms; friendly
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in a manner of speaking; as it were
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to express one's opinions frankly and plainly
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of a significant or worthwhile nature
we have had no support to speak of
-speak
2
British
suffix
speak
More Idioms
Usage
What is a basic definition of speak? Speak means to talk, to give a lecture or speech, or to use your voice to say something. The word speak has many other senses as a verb and is used in several idioms. Speak is a synonym of talk and means to use words and sounds to communicate. When humans speak with each other, we use language governed by rules to understand each other. Some birds, such as parrots and ravens, are able to imitate human voices. While they don’t actually understand the words they use, we still say these animals are able to speak.
- Real-life examples: It is very unlikely that you never speak to people. Some people use sign language to communicate because they are unable to speak. If you have a cold or sore throat, it is harder to speak.
- Used in a sentence: My throat hurts, so I am having trouble speaking.
- Used in a sentence: I was in the audience when the president spoke at our college.
- Real-life examples: Witnesses at trials are expected to speak the truth. In the past, in many countries it was often dangerous to speak against God or the country’s religion. People from France speak French.
- Used in a sentence: I knew the right answer, but I was too nervous to speak the words.
What does -speak mean? The combining form -speak is used like a suffix meaning “a way of talking” or "a variety of language." Often, it has a derogatory, or negative, connotation. It is occasionally used in a variety of informal or slang terms. The form -speak is derived from the word newspeak, from George Orwell's book 1984 (1949). Newspeak is the term Orwell coined to describe the way official language often "say[s] one thing in the guise of its opposite, especially in order to serve a political or ideological cause while pretending to be objective." Put simply, it is language used for propaganda, such as describing a forced labor camp as a "joycamp."
Synonym Usage
Speak, converse, talk mean to make vocal sounds, usually for purposes of communication. To speak often implies conveying information and may apply to anything from an informal remark to a scholarly presentation to a formal address: to speak sharply; to speak before Congress. To converse is to exchange ideas with someone by speaking: to converse with a friend. To talk is a close synonym for to speak but usually refers to less formal situations: to talk about the weather; to talk with a friend.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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speaksimple
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speakssimple
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have spokenperfect
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has spokenperfect
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am speakingprogressive
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are speakingprogressive
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is speakingprogressive
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have been speakingperfect progressive
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has been speakingperfect progressive
Past
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spakesimple
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spokesimple
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had spokenperfect
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was speakingprogressive
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were speakingprogressive
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had been speakingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of speak
First recorded before 900; Middle English speken, Old English specan, variant of sprecan; cognate with German sprechen ( Old High German sprehhan; compare variant spehhan )
Explanation
To speak is to talk. If a UFO lands in your yard, it will be easier to speak with the aliens if they've learned how to speak English — or if you know how to speak Martian. You can speak to your friend about something private, but you can also speak at the paleontology enthusiasts' convention, presenting your thoughts on the latest dinosaur discoveries. If you speak Spanish or Hindi, it means you are able to communicate in those languages, and if you speak for yourself, it means you offer your own opinions.
Vocabulary lists containing speak
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Jurors often choose to speak out - some even write books - after high-profile cases like that of Clancy.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
But for Miller, that reduction is still not enough, said sources not authorized to speak publicly about internal matters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
They now speak with charming accents, listen to Midnight Oil B-sides, refer to great white sharks as “white pointers,” and are still trying to decide if they’ll wear helmets in the opener.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
Another member of the group, who we're calling Jennifer, agreed to speak anonymously.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
I don’t speak Cajun, but I’ve been around enough of Grandma’s friends to pick up a few words and expressions.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Trump delivers Wednesday's keynote and returns for Thursday's finale after Vice President JD Vance speaks.
From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026
Eighth grade teacher Melody Stambaugh speaks with eighth grader Amber during their morning meeting at Scholarship Prep - South Bay.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
Megan: I think it just speaks to the future of this category overall.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
The Pentagon has said the post by Hegseth "speaks for itself".
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026
And then the person lifts their head and speaks for the first time.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Thus spake one of the world’s most powerful men this week, after he gained more power still.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 6, 2022
Thus spake Martin Luther King Jr. at the end of the Selma to Montgomery voting rights march.
From Seattle Times ● May 31, 2020
For instance, thus spake the tree: “253! Time and time again! Bob! Go now!”
From The Guardian ● May 22, 2017
Thus spake Zarathustra He humbly said you listen to me and choose for yourself.
From New York Times ● Apr. 19, 2016
Will spake to none; but stared, hollow-eyed, at the ground.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
The actor - who appeared under his real name of Shane Roche - spoke only to confirm his name, address and plea.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Here’s what I think: Coach Taylor got it right when he spoke soon after the game.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Slate writer Rebecca Onion spoke with a scholar of Butler’s work about why science-fiction fans should read this book.
From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2026
AFP spoke to informal-sector workers in several African cities where their affordable prices make them indispensable to daily life for many.
From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026
Paul doesn’t look up or acknowledge that I spoke.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
According to the Daily Mirror, the Duke of Sussex and King Charles "have not spoken" since the prince return to the UK.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Trump told reporters on June 10 that he had spoken with Newsom “a day ago.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
"I've spoken to Matthew's family and he was described as a best friend, a husband, a father, a brother and a son," Somerville said.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Covering Congress, I’ve spoken to moderate lawmakers beginning to experiment with social media hits, door knocking for signatures and grassroots canvassing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
“Hi, Maya-Jade,” the social worker said over the phone a few days later, after he’d spoken to Mim and Laura, who in turn had discussed it with Maya-Jade, who’d agreed to the phone call.
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
Bessent was speaking not just of the Treasury’s recent intervention in support of the Japanese yen but also of American efforts to shore up the Argentine peso ahead of the last election.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026
Nor did Mr. Roberts note that June 6 — or June 7 at 1:23 am — is not ‘a day ago’ when one is speaking on June 10,” the complaint states.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Why is speaking your mind and being honest so important to you?
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
“Everyone was speaking in Russian to each other. We were discussing these issues in a very extra-friendly manner, all in Russian.”
From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026
We both know of whom we’re speaking but we still haven’t said his name.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
