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Glite Dictionary
🗣️ To talk 🎤 To give a speech 🌩️ To make a sound
to speak

to speak

521 3.2
To give a formal talk to a group of people
  • verb
  • /spiːk/
  • Formal
: dar un discurso
  • May I speak now, Congressman?
  • speak at conferences
  • speak for twenty minutes
  • the speaker spoke

So I'm supposed to speak for about half an hour.

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Examples

  • So for instance, I got hired to speak at a free diving conference.

  • Now he's going to speak at a wealth con soon.

  • And invited me to speak at his event, which I did.

  • So I'm supposed to speak for about half an hour.

    Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

  • I want to thank her for agreeing to speak to us this evening.

    Harvard University

  • Joe Polish asks me to speak at his Genius Network event.

  • That's why I was invited to speak at your graduation.

  • As he begins to speak, he is heckled and derided.

  • I now call Darwinia Omoyo, who will speak on behalf of the Southeast.

  • The renowned author will speak at the literary festival this weekend.

Synonyms

to present
vsto speak
∞ 2.8

Introduce information or ideas to a group

focuses on giving a formal spoken talk rather than showing or displaying
to address
vsto speak
  • Formal
131 4.4

To speak formally to a group, often when giving a speech

refers to giving a formal talk more generally, not only statements
to make a speech
vsto speak
  • Formal
54 2.8

Give a formal talk to people at a public or special event

is a general formal talk to an audience, not only ceremonial events
to lecture
vsto speak
40 3.8

To give a talk that teaches people about a subject, often at a university

is a formal talk for any audience, not limited to teaching
to deliver a speech
vsto speak
  • Formal
16 3.3

To give a formal talk to an audience

is the broader act of giving a formal talk, not only focused delivery
to speak in public
vsto speak
  • Formal
11 3.9

To talk in front of a group of people

is the formal giving of a talk, not merely the public context
to take the floor
vsto speak
6 4.2

Stand up and begin speaking in a meeting or debate

describes giving a formal talk without focusing on starting in a meeting
to hold forth
vsto speak
5 7.4

Talk for a long time about a subject, like giving a lecture

is a formal talk that does not require long or authoritative speech
to speechify
vsto speak
2 9.4

To give a long formal speech that sounds boring and self-important

means a formal talk without the negative pompous or tedious manner

Idioms

so to speak
192 5.6

As a way of saying something that is not exactly true

to speak someone's language
44 4.4

To talk in a way someone understands and likes

to speak volumes
  • Informal
31 5.7

To show a lot without using words

to speak of the devil
  • Informal
22 4.8

A phrase said when someone you are talking about appears

to speak in tongues
17 9.8

Make sounds like speech that others cannot understand during a strong religious feeling

to speak from the heart
  • Informal
11 3.7

Say something honestly and with strong feeling

speak now or forever hold your peace
  • Formal
7 8.5

Ask anyone who objects to speak now or be silent forever

to think before you speak
  • Informal
2 3.5

To pause and imagine how your words will affect others before you say them

to speak one's mind
  • Informal
1 3.5

Say what you think openly

nothing to speak of
1 6.1

Too small to be important

to speak with a forked tongue
  • Informal
1 9.6

Say things that are not true to trick others

to speak with venom
1 7.8

Say angry, cruel things about someone

to speak in circles
  • Informal
1 7.5

Talk without saying a clear answer, often repeating or being vague

to speak out of both sides of one's mouth
  • Informal
9.9

To say different things to different people to hide the truth

Phrasal Verbs

to speak to
∞ 1.7

To talk to someone about a problem or plan

to speak of
∞ 1.9

To talk about someone or something

to speak for
387 3.4

To say what another person or group thinks and wants

to speak out
296 3.4

To say your opinion or feelings openly even when it is difficult

to speak up
  • Informal
180 3.1

Give your opinion clearly and firmly even when it is difficult

to speak against
82 4.2

To say in public that you do not support something

to speak out against
55 4.1

Publicly say you are strongly against something or someone

to to speak of
48 6.8

Not enough to be worth mentioning

to speak clearly
19 1.0

Say words so other people can easily understand you

to speak up
19 2.0

Talk more loudly so people can hear you

to speak openly
13 3.4

Talk honestly without hiding facts or feelings

to speak in public
  • Formal
11 3.9

To talk in front of a group of people

to speak in code
6 7.7

To talk using secret words and signs that only a few people understand

to speak fondly of
2 3.6

To talk about someone or something in a warm, kind way

to speak with condescension
1 8.3

Talk to someone in a way that shows you feel better than them

to speak trimmingly
  • UK
9.9

Say something in a brief, critical way

to speak volcanically
  • Literature
8.6

To talk with strong, sudden feeling, often loudly or angrily

How Formal

to orate
  • Formal
1 8.8
to address
  • Formal
131 4.4
to speak
  • Formal
521 3.2
to deliver a speech
  • Formal
16 3.3
to lecture
40 3.8

Surface Forms

speak infinitive
speaking present participle
speaks third person singular
spoke past
spoken past participle

Etymology

Speak comes from an old German word meaning 'to say' and is the same root as speech, which is a formal talk. So when you speak to an audience you are giving a 'speech' or telling people your ideas.