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
Her music speaks of high school romance and tearful breakups, first loves, vengeance and revenge, rage, loss, and forgiveness.
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Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
In the immediate aftermath of Butler’s injury, Kerr only spoke of the possibility of Kuminga filling that hole in coulds and cans.
—Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Blank has spoken of retail as a civic platform—a space where people from different walks of life come together in ordinary, human ways.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 21 Jan. 2026
Several people spoke of being stuck in elevators and showed CBS News New York unfinished repairs, such as a gaping hole in one resident's closet.
—Noelle Lilley, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for speak of
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Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
In the immediate aftermath of Butler’s injury, Kerr only spoke of the possibility of Kuminga filling that hole in coulds and cans.
—Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Blank has spoken of retail as a civic platform—a space where people from different walks of life come together in ordinary, human ways.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 21 Jan. 2026
Several people spoke of being stuck in elevators and showed CBS News New York unfinished repairs, such as a gaping hole in one resident's closet.
—Noelle Lilley, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
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 22 Jan. 2026.
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