Phrase guide

speak out

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • You should learn to speak out in meetings with your boss.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

express one's opinion openly and without fear or hesitation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • John spoke up at the meeting

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: opine, speak up, animadvert, sound off

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: declare

Narrower terms: editorialize, editorialise

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

26 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Assamese: মাত মাত — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Azerbaijani: dilə gəlmək — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Bulgarian: изказвам се (izkazvam se) — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Chinese Mandarin: 表達意見 /表达意见 (biǎodá yìjiàn) — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Chinese Mandarin: 主張己見 /主张己见 (zhǔzhāng jǐjiàn) — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Chinese Mandarin: 積極發言 /积极发言 (jījí fāyán) — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Dutch: zich uitspreken — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Finnish: ottaa kantaa — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Finnish: sanoa mielipiteensä — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • French: se prononcer — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • French: s'affirmer — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • German: sich klar und deutlich ausdrücken — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • German: Klartext reden — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • German: kein Blatt vor den Mund nehmen — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Italian: esternare — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Latin: ēloquor — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Polish: wypowiadać się — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Polish: wypowiedzieć się — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Portuguese: falar — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Portuguese: expressar-se — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Spanish: expresarse — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Swedish: tala ut — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Swedish: säga sin mening — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Swedish: ta bladet från munnen — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Ukrainian: виказувати (vykazuvaty) — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known
  • Ukrainian: виказати (vykazaty) — assert or promote one's opinion; to make one's thoughts known