speak of
phrasal verb
spoke of; spoken of; speaking of; speaks of
1
: to talk or write about (someone or something) : to mention (a subject) in speech or writing
Speaking of Jill, where is she?
It was the first time she spoke of going to law school.
She never speaks of her suffering during the war.
In the letter, he spoke of feeling ill.
2
: to indicate or suggest (something)
His diaries speak of a troubled mind.
3
: to talk about (someone or something) in a specified way
He spoke well/highly/favorably of both job candidates.
4
chiefly US
: to show that (someone or something) does or does not deserve to be praised, admired, etc.
The continued success of the business speaks well of their judgment.
Her bad behavior speaks poorly of her upbringing.
Examples of speak of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
So Coles never spoke of it, except in his prayers.
—
Dan Pompei, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
While Florida has always been a highly sought after destination for recruits, there simply hasn't been much success to speak of in Gainesville as of late.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
Born nine years before the first polio vaccine, the president remembers the fear that gripped families as outbreaks spread during his early childhood — and has spoken of friends who were affected.
—Robert Goldberg, Boston Herald, 28 Nov. 2025
Investors, executives, and most politicians speak of it with near-religious conviction.
—Z. John Zhang, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speak of
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Dan Pompei, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
While Florida has always been a highly sought after destination for recruits, there simply hasn't been much success to speak of in Gainesville as of late.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025
Born nine years before the first polio vaccine, the president remembers the fear that gripped families as outbreaks spread during his early childhood — and has spoken of friends who were affected.
—Robert Goldberg, Boston Herald, 28 Nov. 2025
Investors, executives, and most politicians speak of it with near-religious conviction.
—Z. John Zhang, Fortune, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speak of
Cite this Entry
“Speak of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speak%20of. Accessed 5 Dec. 2025.
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