speak Hear it!

speak Definition

speak (spēk)

intransitive verb spoke, spo′·ken, speak′·ing

  1. to utter words with the ordinary voice; talk
  2. to express or communicate opinions, feelings, ideas, etc. by or as by talking speak in our behalf, actions speak louder than words
  3. to make a request or reservation (for): usually in the passive voice a seat not yet spoken for
  4. to make a speech; deliver an address or lecture; discourse
  5. to be a spokesman (for)
  6. to talk with another or others; converse
  7. to make or give out sound, as a gun firing or a dog barking

Etymology: ME speken < OE specan, earlier sprecan, akin to Ger sprechen < IE base *sp(h)er(e)-g-, to strew, sprinkle > spark, L spargere, to sprinkle: basic sense “to scatter (words)”

transitive verb

  1. to express or make known by or as by speaking
  2. to use or be able to use (a given language) in speaking
  3. to utter (words) orally
  4. Archaic to speak to; address
  5. Archaic to declare or show to be; reveal
  6. Naut. to hail (a ship)

speak Related Forms

speak′·able adjective

speak Idioms

so to speak

in a manner of speaking; that is to say

speak for itself

to be self-evident

speak out

or speak up
  1. to speak audibly or clearly
  2. to speak freely or forcefully

speak to

to respond to, deal with, fulfill, etc. the decision speaks to the needs of everyone involved

speak well for

to say or indicate something favorable about

to speak of

worthy of mention no gains to speak of

speak Synonyms

speak

v.

  1. To utter

    vocalize, pronounce, express; see utter.

  2. To communicate

    talk, converse, discourse, articulate, chat; see also talk 1.

  3. To deliver a speech

    lecture, declaim, deliver; see address 2.

speak and talk are generally synonymous, but speak often connotes formal address to an auditor or audience who will speak at the dinner? and talk often suggests informal colloquial conversation we were talking at dinner; converse suggests a talking together by two or more people so as to exchange ideas and information the leaders of both countries met to converse for several hours; discourse suggests a somewhat formal, detailed, extensive talking to another or others she was discoursing to us on Keats

so to speak

that is to say, as it were; in a manner of speaking, as the saying goes*; see accordingly.

to speak of

somewhat, a little, not much, worthy of mention; see some.

speak Usage Examples

Object

  • language: Global business success therefore seems simple speak a foreign language.
  • truth: I am trying to set you free by speaking the truth.
  • word: Where possible speak the words out loud with the feeling of love.
  • volume: Your words have spoken volumes to me about feelings I could not put into my words.
  • English: The schools in Guadalajara often struggle to get teachers who speak fluent English.
  • Welsh: All the family speak Welsh as our first language.

Preposition: on

behalf: Speaking on behalf of the people of Cardiff, I'm pleased that no one was hurt.

Preposition: at

  • conference: Michael was inspired to write PRIVATE PEACEFUL after visiting Ypres to speak at a conference on writing.
  • rally: Speaking at climate change rallies in London, Jean Lambert has called for a one-stop shop in London to help businesses combat climate change.

Preposition: through

prophet: In Hebrews 1 we are hold that God spoke through the prophets and in the last days tho his Son.

Preposition: into

microphone: How can you speak into a microphone when you can't speak at all?

Adjective complement

  • English: I was served by a woman who spoke English with a very thick accent.
  • fluent: Fanny Rodocanachi, spoke fluent tho idiosyncratic French and English, among other languages.
  • Spanish: Beside English, we have several customer service representatives who speak Spanish, German and Russian.
  • Gaelic: With all her family speaking Gaelic she was brought up speaking Gaelic as her first language.
  • French: Those who speak French, have kin in France or find themselves in vulnerable situations are being favored.

Followed by an intransitive particle

Preposition: with

  • accent: He speaks with a thick French accent, a legacy of growing up on a farm in Rougemont, Canada, outside Montreal.
  • voice: Imagine speaking with the voice of one of your favorite sounding characters from TV or film.
  • eloquence: Instead, this softly spoken scientist allowed his message to do the talking, and it spoke with an urgent eloquence.

Browse dictionary entries near speak

  1. ‹ SPE
  2. ‹ SPDRs
  3. ‹ SPCC
  4. ‹ SPCA
  5. ‹ SPC
  6. ‹ spaz
  7. ‹ spay
  8. ‹ spawn
  9. ‹ spavined
  10. ‹ spavin
  1. speak-easy ›
  2. speak for itself ›
  3. speak out ›
  4. -speak ›
  5. speak well of ›
  6. speaker ›
  7. speakerphone ›
  8. speaking ›
  9. speaking in tongues ›
  10. speaking tube ›