- 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.
Voice writers repeat every word spoken in court along with a sequence of formatting commands to voice recognition software.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2026
He has previously spoken out against measures to clamp down on illegal migration, and called the US administration's treatment of immigrants "inhuman".
From Barron's • Jul. 4, 2026
"I've looked for him everywhere: in the building, in the hospitals, I've spoken to everyone… and no one knows anything."
From BBC • Jul. 3, 2026
Because spoken language leaves no direct fossil evidence, scientists have few ways to trace its earliest origins.
From Science Daily • Jul. 2, 2026
“Ta-TUM, ta-TUM, ta-TUM, ta-TUM, ta-TUM! That was well spoken, too. I could hear the iambic pentameter galloping right along.”
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
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.
