speak for

phrasal verb

spoke for; spoken for; speaking for; speaks for
: to express the thoughts or opinions of (someone)
They chose him to speak for the group.
Speaking only for myself, I'm against the plan.
"We don't want any dessert." "Speak for yourself. I want some."
often used figuratively
I don't need to say more. The facts speak for themselves.

Examples of speak for in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are those, like the Muslim refugees, who speak for themselves. Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025 Burkholder spoke for about five minutes Wednesday. Sam McDowell 18, Kansas City Star, 18 Dec. 2025 Thant’s accomplishments are all the more impressive because the position of secretary-general carries no real power—except for the moral authority to speak for the world as a whole. Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025 In this view, scientists simply discover truth, and truth speaks for itself. Beth Dufault, The Conversation, 15 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for speak for

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Cite this Entry

“Speak for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speak%20for. Accessed 22 Dec. 2025.

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