speak up
Britishverb
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to speak more loudly
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to state one's beliefs, objections, etc, bravely and firmly
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Also, speak out . Talk loudly, so as to be heard, as in Speak up, child, I can't hear you , or He should speak out so that those in back can hear him . The first term dates from the early 1700s, the variant from the early 1500s.
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Also, speak up for . Express one's opinion or one's support for someone or something. For example, When it comes to speaking up about the town's needs, you can rely on Mary , or I'm glad you spoke up for me in that meeting . [c. 1700]
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.
Before Bowen could speak up, Georgiou added that he’s a police officer in Athens, and that he chose their spots carefully.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
“He knows exactly when to stand forward, when to stand back, when to speak up, when to support, when to say the word ‘and’ rather than ‘but,’ ” Makan said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026
In February, the BBC heard from senior managers who said they personally had felt intimidated and afraid to speak up in front of the most senior executives.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
She has traveled to Washington, D.C., with the group to speak up for older borrowers.
From Salon • Mar. 17, 2026
I thought about the fear, but I also thought about how I would feel if I didn’t go, if I didn’t, as she said, speak up.
From "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds
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.
