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Synonyms

speak up

British  

verb

  1. to speak more loudly

  2. to state one's beliefs, objections, etc, bravely and firmly

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

speak up Idioms  
  1. 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.

  2. 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.

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

Who hasn’t experienced the frustration of having to speak up and make themselves heard in a world where corporate entities deprioritize human beings?

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2026

Team USA athlete Rich Ruohonen didn’t shrink from his Olympic moment—nor from his chance to speak up for Minnesota.

From Slate • Feb. 27, 2026

While speaking to the press after the Grammys, she raved about how lucky we are to have a musical leader like Bad Bunny speak up for “what is true and what is right.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2026

He was just going to speak up when Acorn saved him the trouble.

From "Watership Down: A Novel" by Richard Adams