26984 words

speaks

13 definitions • 44 examples
1
to say words, to use the voice, or to have a conversation with someone:

Examples:

Would you mind speaking more slowly, please?
speak to mainly UK "Can I speak to Dan please?"
speak with mainly US "Can I speak with Scott please?"
"Speaking." (= This is Scott.)
If he tells Julie what I said, I'll never speak to him again.
speak of formal She spoke of her sadness over her father's death.
speak highly of She speaks very highly of (= says good things about) the new director.
speak for I can certainly come but I can't speak for my wife (= I can't tell you whether she can or not).
formal Who is going to speak for (= represent in a court of law) the accused?
speak for yourself He's old enough to speak for himself (= to say what he thinks).
I went with Ava - speaking of (= on the subject of) Ava, have you seen her new haircut?
speaking of which We've been invited to Rachel and Jamie's wedding - speaking of which, did you know that they're moving to New York?
speak as Speaking as (= with my experience as) a mother of four, I can tell you that children are exhausting.
speak with an accent Sue speaks with an American accent.
speak in a whisper Why are you speaking in a whisper (= very quietly)?
speak a word For five whole minutes, neither of them spoke a word (= they both said nothing).
2
talking from a particular point of view:

Examples:

Historically speaking, the island is of great interest.
3
to tell someone that they have done something wrong:

Examples:

The manager promised that she would speak to the person responsible.
4
to (be able to) talk in a language:

Examples:

He speaks fluent French.
How many foreign languages do you speak?
speak a word of I couldn't speak a word of (= I did not know any) Spanish when I got there.
I couldn't figure out what language they were speaking.
5
to give a formal talk to a group of people:

Examples:

Who is speaking in the debate tonight?
speak to The Queen speaks to the nation on television every Christmas.
speak for/against Janet is speaking for the motion (= trying to persuade the people listening that the idea is good) and Peter is speaking against (it) (= trying to persuade them that it is bad).
6
to show or express something without using words:

Examples:

She was silent, but her eyes spoke her real feelings for him.
speak of The whole robbery spoke of (= made it seem that there had been) inside knowledge on the part of the criminals.
7
used to form nouns to mean the special language used in a particular subject area or business:

Examples:

computer-speak
marketing-speak
8
to say words, to use the voice, or to have a conversation with someone:

Examples:

[ I ] I heard someone speaking in the hallway.
[ I ] Please speak louder.
[ I ] "I’ll never speak to you again," he said angrily.
[ T ] No one spoke a word (= No one said anything).
[ I ] She spoke in a whisper (= very quietly).
9
Speaking is used with adverbs ending in -ly to show that you are talking from a particular point of view:

Examples:

[ I ] Generally speaking, this is what happens when you see a nutritionist.
10
to talk in a language:

Examples:

How many languages do you speak?
He speaks fluent Italian.
When I arrived in Canada, I didn’t speak a word of English (= I did not know any English).
11
to give a formal talk:

Examples:

Will you be speaking at the conference?
Ted will speak about careers in education.
12
to show or express something without using words:

Examples:

[ I always + adv/prep ] The incident spoke of shady financial dealings between the partners.
[ T ] Her face spoke volumes (= showed clearly what she thought).
13

Examples:

business-speak
management-speak

Navigation