be spoken for
idiom
: to not be available because of already being claimed by someone else or in a relationship with someone else
I'm sorry. This seat is spoken for.
I can't go out with you; I'm already spoken for.
Examples of be spoken for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And some of the $26.3 million budgeted for the upcoming fiscal year might already be spoken for, as applicants with valid eligibility notices who are locked out this year will be considered when more funds are available — no earlier than Oct. 1.
—
Michael Brice-Saddler, Washington Post, 1 July 2023
But while all those titles may be spoken for, Venice’s unofficial market will offer a handful of films, both art house and genre titles, that are still up for grabs, with enough hooks and star power to pull in international and domestic buyers.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2022
The boss knows that Shara’s summer might already be spoken for, what with the need to fill her extracurricular C.V. for a possible Ivy League future.
—Han Ong, The New Yorker, 18 July 2022
That means that potential corporate sponsors and season-ticket holders in a smaller market could already be spoken for before the A’s could get there.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2022
Five teams have already clinched playoff spots in the NFC, and the remaining two berths could be spoken for by the time Sunday's action wraps up.
—Usa Today Sports, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2022
There exist two seats to be formally announced at Dale Coyne Racing, though those are believed to be spoken for (Takuma Sato and David Malukas).
—Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Nov. 2021
Percy Scott, executive director of Chamber 57, encouraged businesses to put in for grant money, noting that it will likely be spoken for fairly quickly.
—Mike Nolan, chicagotribune.com, 18 Aug. 2021
Finally, on June 12, a live online auction will be held at the end of which the seat will be spoken for.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 6 May 2021
Michael Brice-Saddler, Washington Post, 1 July 2023
But while all those titles may be spoken for, Venice’s unofficial market will offer a handful of films, both art house and genre titles, that are still up for grabs, with enough hooks and star power to pull in international and domestic buyers.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2022
The boss knows that Shara’s summer might already be spoken for, what with the need to fill her extracurricular C.V. for a possible Ivy League future.
—Han Ong, The New Yorker, 18 July 2022
That means that potential corporate sponsors and season-ticket holders in a smaller market could already be spoken for before the A’s could get there.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2022
Five teams have already clinched playoff spots in the NFC, and the remaining two berths could be spoken for by the time Sunday's action wraps up.
—Usa Today Sports, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2022
There exist two seats to be formally announced at Dale Coyne Racing, though those are believed to be spoken for (Takuma Sato and David Malukas).
—Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Nov. 2021
Percy Scott, executive director of Chamber 57, encouraged businesses to put in for grant money, noting that it will likely be spoken for fairly quickly.
—Mike Nolan, chicagotribune.com, 18 Aug. 2021
Finally, on June 12, a live online auction will be held at the end of which the seat will be spoken for.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 6 May 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'be spoken for.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near be spoken for
Cite this Entry
“Be spoken for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/be%20spoken%20for. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
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