- 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.
Today’s Western culture isn’t the endpoint of a straight line from the poetry spoken around the Aegean three millennia ago.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Warsh has spoken frequently over the past six weeks, including during his first semiannual testimony to Congress, but “he has said very little,” Daco added.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
Rob Jetten, prime minister of the Netherlands, said he had spoken to Merz to convey his condolences after the "act of aggression" and said that the Dutch stood "shoulder to shoulder with our German neighbours".
From Barron's ● Jul. 26, 2026
"I have not spoken with Lucas yet," said De Zerbi.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
I’ve spoken with Brigit Ebsen and find her to be a prickly pear of a delight.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
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.
