- past participle of speak.
verb
adjective
-
uttered through the medium of speech Compare written
-
(in combination) having speech as specified
soft-spoken
-
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
My daughter hasn’t spoken to me in four years.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
The two aren’t believed to have spoken in years and British tabloids had reported extensively on Meghan’s infighting with Prince William’s wife, Kate.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
A spokesperson for Victoria Police said officers have spoken to several people who were at the Pullman Hotel, but no one was formally interviewed or arrested.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026
Children’s book author Phil Bildner wrote in a separate Threads post on Tuesday that he has spoken with Threets.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
Ellis had barely spoken ten words during the journey, but the absence of his looming figure among them made their group seem very much smaller and weaker.
From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda
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.
