Speak
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /spiːk/ · Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Speak is a verb meaning (intransitive) To communicate with one's voice, to say words out loud.
Meaning
(intransitive) To communicate with one's voice, to say words out loud.
More Meanings
- (intransitive, reciprocal) To have a conversation.
- (by extension) To communicate or converse by some means other than orally, such as writing or facial expressions.
- (intransitive) To deliver a message to a group; to deliver a speech.
- (transitive, stative) To be able to communicate in a language.
- (transitive) To utter.
- (transitive) To communicate (some fact or feeling); to bespeak, to indicate.
- (informal, transitive, sometimes humorous) To understand (as though it were a language).
Example Sentences
You're speaking too fast.
He spoke of it in his diary.
Speak to me only with your eyes.
Actions speak louder than words.
Word Forms
- speaks
- speaking
- speakest
- speaketh
- speake
- speke
Synonyms for speak
Depending on context, synonyms include articulate, talk, verbalize, babble, blab, chat.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include verbalize, talk, utter, mouth, articulate, speaker.
Commonly Confused & Compared Words
Related Dictionary Tools
Practice “speak” in a Crossword
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Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.