Phrase guide

speak up

verb · 4 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌspiːk ˈʌp/
  • General-American: spēk' ŭpʹ
  • General-American: /ˌspik ˈʌp/
  • Australian: /ˌspiːk ˈʌp/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To talk more loudly or clearly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Could you speak up? I can't hear you.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To make oneself or one's opinions known; to advocate or assert oneself.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • I feel that somebody has to speak up for those oppressed by the system.
  • Speak up if I'm bothering you.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

speak louder; raise one's voice

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The audience asked the lecturer to please speak up

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: talk, speak, utter, mouth, verbalize, verbalise

4

verb

Meaning 4

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 out, 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

37 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: puhua kovempaa — to talk more loudly or plainly
  • Finnish: korottaa ääntään — to talk more loudly or plainly
  • German: lauter sprechen — to talk more loudly or plainly
  • German: den Mund aufmachen — to talk more loudly or plainly
  • Hungarian: hangosabban/érthetőbben/tagoltabban beszél — to talk more loudly or plainly
  • Hungarian: felemeli a hangját — to talk more loudly or plainly
  • Polish: mówić głośniej — to talk more loudly or plainly
  • Polish: podnosić głos — to talk more loudly or plainly
  • Polish: podnieść głos — to talk more loudly or plainly
  • Portuguese: falar mais alto — to talk more loudly or plainly
  • Portuguese: falar mais claro/claramente — to talk more loudly or plainly
  • Portuguese: erguer a voz — to talk more loudly or plainly
  • Russian: говорить громче (govoritʹ) — to talk more loudly or plainly
  • Spanish: hablar más alto — to talk more loudly or plainly
  • Spanish: hablar más fuerte — to talk more loudly or plainly
  • Azerbaijani: söz açmaq — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • Azerbaijani: dilə gəlmək — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • Finnish: sanoa ääneen — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • Galician: facerse ouvir — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • German: einsetzen — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • German: eintreten — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • German: den Mund aufmachen — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • German: sagen — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • German: seine Meinung sagen — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • Hungarian: kiáll — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • Hungarian: felszólal — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • Hungarian: szót emel — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • Hungarian: felemeli a szavát — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • Hungarian: szól — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • Polish: odzywać się — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • Polish: odezwać się — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • Polish: wypowiadać się — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • Polish: wypowiedzieć się — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • Portuguese: erguer a voz — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • Portuguese: fazer-se ouvir — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • Russian: высказываться (vyskazyvatʹsja) — to make oneself or one's opinions known
  • Swedish: säga ifrån — to make oneself or one's opinions known