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
You are reminded of why he’s regularly spoken of with admiration and awe, and why his reputation as one of the most compelling, chameleonic performers to ever do it is well-earned.
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2025
The service lasted more than five hours, but the moment that stilled the crowd came when his widow, Erika, spoke of her husband’s killer in the language of absolution.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
My runs take me up and down terrain, and there was very little movement to speak of.
—Jenifer Calle, Glamour, 26 Sep. 2025
And speaking of putting the truth out there.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speak of
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David Fear, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2025
The service lasted more than five hours, but the moment that stilled the crowd came when his widow, Erika, spoke of her husband’s killer in the language of absolution.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
My runs take me up and down terrain, and there was very little movement to speak of.
—Jenifer Calle, Glamour, 26 Sep. 2025
And speaking of putting the truth out there.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 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 1 Oct. 2025.
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