speak
/spik/ verb A1- To communicate with one's voice, to say words out loud. · I was so surprised I couldn't speak.· You're speaking too fast.
- To have a conversation. · It's been ages since we've spoken.
- To communicate or converse by some means other than orally, such as writing or facial expressions. · He spoke of it in his diary.· Speak to me only with your eyes.
- To deliver a message to a group; to deliver a speech. · This evening I shall speak on the topic of correct English usage.
- To be able to communicate in a language. · He speaks Mandarin fluently.
- To be able to communicate in the manner of specialists in a field.
- To utter. · I was so surprised that I couldn't speak a word.
- To communicate (some fact or feeling); to bespeak, to indicate.
Plural speak · He/she/it speaks · Past spoke · Past participle spoken · -ing form speaking
Verb forms
- Base form
- speak
- He/she/it
- speaks
- Past
- spoke
- Past participle
- spoken
- -ing form
- speaking
An irregular verb: learn its past and past participle by heart.
Phrasal verbs and expressions
From the library
He was gray also, from his long beard to his rough boots, and he looked stern and solemn, and rarely spoke.
“Of what packet are you speaking, Danglars?”
“He did not speak to me of it,” replied the shipowner; “but if there be any letter he will give it to me.”
“He spoke of it as a thing already decided.”
Other matches
Learn speak in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.