To save this word, you'll need to log in.
up·speak | \ ˈəp-ˌspēk 
\
\variants:
or less commonly up-speak
Definition of upspeak
: uptalk Speak with confidence. Lots of people have speech patterns that convey uncertainty. Eliminate upspeak—giving the last syllable a higher inflection. — Kathryn Rem, The State Journal-Register (Springfield, Illinois), 21 June 1998 … the giddy upspeak of the L.A. Basin (Hi? My name is Mary?) …— Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2000
Other Words from upspeak
upspeak or less commonly up-speak intransitive verb upspoke\ ˈəp-ˌspōk \ also up-spoke; upspoken\ ˈəp-ˌspō-kən \ also up-spoken; upspeaking also up-speaking; upspeaks also up-speaks
\ also up-spoke; upspoken\ ˈəp-ˌspō-kən \ also up-spoken; upspeaking also up-speaking; upspeaks also up-speaks
There's this linguist? Cynthia McLemore? Who studied female students at the University of Texas? Who up-speak a lot? And she found out that up-talk may very well serve a useful purpose. All those up inflections? They draw attention to what one says, McLemore claims. — Bonnie McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 28 Nov. 1993
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on upspeak
What made you want to look up upspeak? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
More Confusing Words—Quiz
- The magician
______moved the selected card to the top of the deck.
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
- More Confusing Words—Quiz
How many of these commonly confused words do you know?
Take the quiz - Name that Thing: Toys and Games Edition
It's all fun and games until someone beats your high score.
Take the quiz - Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz - Add Diction
Build a chain of words by adding one letter at a time.
Play the game
Share upspeak
Time Traveler for upspeak
The first known use of upspeak was in 1994
See more words from the same year