pep talk

noun

: a usually brief, intense, and emotional talk designed to influence or encourage an audience

Examples of pep talk in a Sentence

The coach gave the team a pep talk before the game.

She needs a pep talk.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the end, creation stories feels a bit like an internal pep talk for which an audience didn’t necessarily need to be present. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026

The stadium announcer can be heard telling fans about some sort of promotion, so that might have been the impetus for Kelce’s Big Mac pep talk. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Sep. 2026

Witness the reaction to the 19-year-old’s sparky cameo against Arsenal at the weekend, which prompted former Chelsea and England striker Daniel Sturridge to issue something like a pep talk on live television. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Top Plays The Dolphins’ offense started so rough during the 11-on-11 portion of practice Willis gathered the unit up midway through a session and gave them a pep talk. — Omar Kelly august 25, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pep talk

• alcock
• beanstalk
• bedrock
• boardwalk
• catwalk
• cornstalk
• crosswalk
• deadlock
• feedstock
• fetlock
• flintlock
• goshawk