bespeak

1 of 3

verb

be·​speak bi-ˈspēk 

bē-

bespoke bi-ˈspōk 

bē-

; bespoken bi-ˈspō-kən 

bē-

; bespeaking

transitive verb

1

: to hire, engage, or claim beforehand

2

: to speak to especially with formality : address

3

: request

bespeak a favor

4

a

: indicate, signify

her performance bespeaks considerable practice

b

: to show beforehand : foretell

bespoke

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adjective

be·​spoke bi-ˈspōk 

bē-

variants or less commonly bespoken

bi-ˈspō-kən 

bē-

1

a

: custom-made

a bespoke suit

b

: dealing in or producing custom-made articles

a bespoke tailor

2

dialect : engaged

bespoke

3 of 3

past tense of bespeak

Did you know?

In the English language of yore, the verb bespeak had various meanings, including “to speak,” “to accuse,” and “to complain.” In the 16th century, bespeak acquired another meaning: “to order.” It is from that sense that we get the adjective bespoke, referring to clothes and other things that are ordered before they are made. Bespoke has enjoyed a spike in usage in recent years, perhaps due to consumer trends that champion all things artisanal over those that are prefab.

Synonyms of bespeak

Verb

• book

Adjective

• tailored
• custom
• customized

Examples of bespeak in a Sentence

Verb

Her newest album bespeaks a great talent for writing songs.

bespoke the rental car weeks in advance of their trip

Adjective

a wealthy man who can easily afford bespoke suits

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In the first episode, Temple wears a costume that bespeaks Dorothy Gale’s famous gingham dress. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026

Retirement savers are hoarding cash Retirement savers also reported keeping a sizeable share of their savings in cash, a choice that bespeaks mistrust in financial markets. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 18 July 2026

Adjective

An assembly-line approach Conventional nuclear plants require massive, bespoke civil engineering works constructed entirely on site. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026

Lucaj also envisions the store as a connection between New York and Paris café culture, and has partnered with nearby La Perle, commissioning a custom mural and creating a bespoke coffee experience as part of integrating into the neighborhood. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

past participle of bespeak

First Known Use

Verb

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1607, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for bespeak

• antique
• batik
• boutique
• cacique
• comique
• critique
• grosbeak
• midweek
• mystique
• oblique
• physique
• pratique

Kids Definition

bespeak

verb

be·​speak bi-ˈspēk 

bespoke -ˈspōk  ; bespoken -ˈspō-kən  ; bespeaking

1

: to ask or arrange for in advance

2

: to make plain : show

her performance bespeaks much practice