Showing results for "spoken"

• past participle of speak.

spoken

American  

[spoh-kuhn] / ˈspoʊ kən /

verb

1. a past participle of speak.

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adjective

1. uttered or expressed by speaking; oral (opposed to written).

   the spoken word.

2. speaking, or using speech, as specified (usually used in combination).

   fair-spoken; plain-spoken; soft-spoken.

spoken British  

/ ˈspəʊkən /

verb

1. the past participle of speak

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adjective

1. uttered through the medium of speech Compare written

2. (in combination) having speech as specified

   soft-spoken

3. 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

See Examples For:

spoken

A. Investors I’ve spoken with say they still are interested in buying shares in companies like those delaying IPOs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

It’s not the first time that the pope has spoken out about the relationship between AI and humanity.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026

Horton wished he could have spoken to Tanter ahead of the first game.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he had spoken with his UAE counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and agreed "to collaborate against extremist elements seeking to harm security and undermine stability".

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

Christopher thought of Kavil and the way he had spoken of the creature in the maze.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell