speaking

American  

[spee-king] / ˈspi kɪŋ /

noun

1. the act, utterance, or discourse of a person who speaks.

2. speakings, literary works composed for recitation, as ancient bardic poetry; oral literature.

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adjective

1. that speaks.

2. used in, suited to, or involving speaking or talking.

   the speaking voice.

3. of or relating to declamation.

4. giving information as if by speech.

   a speaking proof of a thing.

5. highly expressive.

   speaking eyes.

6. lifelike.

   a speaking likeness.

idioms

1. not on speaking terms, not or no longer in a relationship of open, willing, or ready communication, as because of resentment or estrangement.

   They had a squabble during the holidays, and now they're not on speaking terms.

2. on speaking terms,

   1. in a relationship close enough for or limited to friendly superficialities.

      I don't know the hosts well, but we are certainly on speaking terms.

   2. in a relationship of open, willing, or ready communication.

      Now that the debt has been settled, I hope you and your partner are on speaking terms again.

speaking British  

/ ˈspiːkɪŋ /

adjective

1. (prenominal) eloquent, impressive, or striking

2. 1. able to speak

   2. (in combination) able to speak a particular language

      French-speaking

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Other Word Forms

• nonspeaking adjective
• speakingly adverb
• speakingness noun
• well-speaking adjective

Etymology

Origin of speaking

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; speak, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

The announcement of Dudamel’s first New York season, while praiseworthy, brought an earful of gripes about his speaking in platitudes from hardcore New Yorkers unimpressed by uplift.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

He quickly abandoned his notes after being criticised for sounding stilted, and started speaking "from the heart", he told me in an interview earlier this year.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

“Generally speaking, weekends haven’t been kind to de-escalation,” Babin says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Trump commented on the crash shortly after it happened, speaking to reporters outside of Air Force One.

From Salon • Apr. 2, 2026

The owl and the polar bear stared out at the Mainly Frozen Ocean without speaking.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el