talk

verb \ ˈtȯk \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Examples: talk in a Sentence

Definition of talk

talked; talking; talks

intransitive verb

1 a : to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken words

b : to convey information or communicate in any way (as with signs or sounds)

can make a trumpet talk

make the computer talk to the printer

2 : to use speech : speak

3 a : to speak idly : prate

b : gossip

c : to reveal secret or confidential information

4 : to give a talk : lecture

transitive

1 : to deliver or express in speech : utter

2 : to make the subject of conversation or discourse : discuss

talk business

3 : to influence, affect, or cause by talking

talked them into going

4 : to use (a language) for conversing or communicating : speak

—

talker

noun

— talk back

: to answer impertinently

— talk sense

: to voice rational, logical, or sensible thoughts

— talk through one's hat

: to voice irrational, illogical, or erroneous ideas

— talk turkey

: to speak frankly or bluntly

See talk defined for English-language learners

See talk defined for kids

Examples of talk in a Sentence

She never talks at the meetings.
He did most of the talking during dinner.
He loves to hear himself talk.
I think she's talking a lot of nonsense.
I can't talk right now. I'm running late.
They were talking in Spanish.
We talked on the phone until midnight.
Both sides in the dispute are now willing to talk.
They are in the conference room talking business.
She had laryngitis and couldn't talk.

Recent Examples of talk from the Web

Corker has talked with the President about his amendment and Trump had tried to dissuade Corker from pushing for it, to no avail.

— lauren fox, phil mattingly and manu raju, CNN, "Corker slams GOP colleagues: 'We might poke the bear!'," 12 June 2018
Whether or not the characterization was ever fair, the Bluetooth headset was the accoutrement of smarmy business men talking loud on the phone in inappropriate places.

— ian bogost, The Atlantic, "Apple's Airpods Are an Omen," 12 June 2018
Indeed, talking with Edwards isn’t so much a conversation, but an experience.

— doug haller, azcentral, "Six months in, has ASU football's Herm Edwards changed the narrative?," 12 June 2018
The Bengals second and third round picks talk in their first press conference at Paul Brown Stadium.

— paul dehner jr., Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati Bengals' Dunlap: ‘Felt painted as a selfish guy, but that wasn’t my objective’," 12 June 2018
Cohen’s talk with USIF, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, was part of a referral business that complemented a consulting business set up to trade on his familiarity with Trump after decade-long work at the president’s company.

— Washington Post, "Immigration firm seems to thrive after Trump lawyer’s help," 11 June 2018
De Niro was talking to Tony viewers Sunday evening during the broadcast of the 72nd annual Tony Awards when a chunk of his speech was censored.

— maureen lee lenker, EW.com, "Robert De Niro gets censored for saying 'F— Trump' at Tony Awards," 11 June 2018
Spencer is far from the only one talking about streaming: Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said that streamed games will replace consoles some time after the next console generation, and EA has announced its own cloud streaming service.

— peter bright, Ars Technica, "Microsoft’s next-gen gaming plan: A new Xbox, and streaming for everyone else," 11 June 2018
That transition Burke talked about was more than just on the field.

— mike persak, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Dolphins' Stephone Anthony comfortable, in the mix for third linebacker job," 11 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'talk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of talk

Middle English; akin to Old English talu tale

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

talk Synonyms

Synonyms

articulate, bring out, enunciate, pass, say, speak, state, tell, utter, verbalize, vocalize;

Near Antonyms

stifle, suppress;

blabber, blurt, get off, shoot;

advertise, announce, blaze, broadcast, declare, post, proclaim, promulgate, publicize, publish;

affirm, allege, assert, aver, avouch, avow;

breathe, chirp, drawl, gasp, lip, mouth, murmur, purr, shout, spout, whisper;

clothe, couch, formulate, phrase, word;

comment, pipe up (with), remark;

Phrases

put into words;

talk

noun

Definition of talk

1 : the act or an instance of talking : speech

2 : a way of speaking : language

3 : pointless or fruitless discussion : verbiage

4 : a formal discussion, negotiation, or exchange of views —often used in plural

5 a : mention, report

b : rumor, gossip

6 : the topic of interested comment, conversation, or gossip

it's the talk of the town

7 a : address, lecture

b : written analysis or discussion presented in an informal or conversational manner

8 : communicative sounds or signs resembling or functioning as talk

bird talk

See talk defined for English-language learners

Examples of talk in a Sentence

the noted author's talk on the state of the modern novel
what good will all this talk do when we need to take action now?

Recent Examples of talk from the Web

The 22-year-old Uruguayan is said to be available for £26m and according to Sky Sports talks between the two clubs have already begun.

— SI.com, "Arsenal Fans Are Getting Excited On Social Media Over Latest Potential Signing," 13 June 2018
The conversation, without note takers or aides, was the latest sign of Trump’s norm-smashing approach to foreign affairs, where even one-on-one talks between leaders are usually carefully scripted and recorded.

— matt stiles, latimes.com, "Trump becomes first U.S. president to meet a North Korean head of state; 'major change' coming," 12 June 2018
These are the fraught high-level talks between nations that are featured on newspapers’ front pages.

— paul arthur berkman, Scientific American, "Could Science Diplomacy Be the Key to Stabilizing International Relations?," 12 June 2018
It will be followed by expanded bilateral talks between the two countries and then a working lunch.

— jen kirby, Vox, "North Korea summit: Trump and Kim shake hands," 12 June 2018
Rodman, who was in Singapore for the talks between a dictator-tyrant and the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, has the special connection of being an acquaintance of both men.

— stephen a. crockett jr., The Root, "10 Reasons Dennis Rodman’s Summit Interview Was the Most Bizarre Must-Watch Television Moment in 2018," 12 June 2018
The Bush administration held further talks between North Korea along with China, Russia, South Korea and Japan, but those failed to produce a lasting agreement.

— NBC News, "North Korea's many nuclear weapons and how to rid the world of them," 11 June 2018
The regulations have, however, led to some bitterness during trade talks between the European Union and United States.

— amie tsang, New York Times, "Whisky From a German Glen? The E.U. Won’t Drink to That," 7 June 2018
The lightning diplomacy between the U.S. and North Korea before next week’s historic summit has thrust a little-known CIA officer into an uncomfortably public role as a key intermediary in talks between the two adversaries.

— nick wadhams, Bloomberg.com, "Mystery CIA Officer Thrust Into Spotlight as Korea Summit Looms," 6 June 2018

First Known Use of talk

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

talk Synonyms

Synonyms

argument, argumentation, back-and-forth, colloquy, confab, confabulation, conference, consult, consultation, council, counsel, debate, deliberation, dialogue (also dialog), discussion, give-and-take, palaver, parley;

chat, conversation, rap, words;

discourse, disquisition;

bargaining, consultancy, negotiation, pourparler;

TALK Defined for English Language Learners

talk

verb

Definition of talk for English Language Learners

: to say words in order to express your thoughts, feelings, opinions, etc., to someone
: to have a conversation or discussion with someone
: to have a conversation about (something)

talk

noun

Definition of talk for English Language Learners

: an occurrence in which one person talks about something with another person : a conversation or discussion
: the act of talking formally about something before a group of people : a speech or lecture
: a formal discussion between two or more groups that are trying to reach an agreement about something

TALK Defined for Kids

talk

verb \ ˈtȯk \

Definition of talk for Students

talked; talking

1 : to express in speech : speak

You're talking too fast.

2 : to speak about : discuss

They're talking business.

3 : to cause or influence with words

I talked them into agreeing.

4 : to use a certain language

They were talking Spanish.

5 : to exchange ideas by means of spoken words : converse

Let's sit and talk.

6 : to pass on information other than by speaking

Can you talk with your hands?

7 : ²gossip

If you act that way, people will talk.

8 : to reveal secret information

Officials forced the spy to talk.

—

talker

noun

— talk over

: discuss 2

We need to talk over our vacation plans.

talk

noun

Definition of talk for Students

1 : the act or an instance of speaking with someone

We had a talk.

2 : a way of speaking : language

3 : conference

4 : ¹rumor

Has there been talk of war?

5 : the topic of comment or gossip

The President's visit is the talk of the town.

6 : an informal address

The coach gave us a talk to raise our spirits.

Learn More about talk

See words that rhyme with talk Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for talk Spanish Central: Translation of talk Nglish: Translation of talk for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of talk for Arabic speakers

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talk

Definition of talk

talker

Examples of talk in a Sentence

Recent Examples of talk from the Web

Origin and Etymology of talk

talk Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

talk

Definition of talk

Examples of talk in a Sentence

Recent Examples of talk from the Web

First Known Use of talk

talk Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

TALK Defined for English Language Learners

talk

Definition of talk for English Language Learners

talk

Definition of talk for English Language Learners

TALK Defined for Kids

talk

Definition of talk for Students

talker

talk

Definition of talk for Students

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