1
as in to speak
to talk as if giving an important and formal speech given the opportunity, many politicians will orate at considerable length on just about any subject

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2
as in to lecture
to give a formal often extended talk on a subject the respected anthropologist is expected to orate about her latest research findings before a packed auditorium

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of orate The Open Meeting Act prohibits directors from discussing (or orating) on matters not disclosed on the agenda, per Civil Code Section 4930(a). Kelly G. Richardson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025 The latter went on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and orated about his marathon oration sesh last week in Congress. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025 Elegantly orating about universal vastness and human connection, the Chilean/French rapper’s delivery melds poetic prose with grace. Griselda Flores, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2025 Is there a historical context where the struggle has been orated by other groups? J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2024 At the age of 3, little Malachi Lukes was orating at his school in the style of President Barack Obama. Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2024 Perhaps a chatbot can even orate. David Crary, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for orate
Verb
  • Diane Brady is an award-winning business journalist and author who has interviewed newsmakers worldwide and often speaks about the global business landscape.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
  • In an interview with the BBC's Scott Mills on The Scott Mills Breakfast Show, Swift spoke about the differences and similarities with her job versus her future husband's.
    Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Augusta was a devout Christian who often lectured the Bible to her sons and blamed alcohol and women for the evils of the world, per the outlet.
    Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Clarke and his business partner sold photographs and films, wrote and lectured about their adventures, and began treasure hunting.
    Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But expect more than a few awards pundits to declaim that the Academy, finally, has no other choice but to present Park Chan-wook with his first Oscar nomination.
    Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Yours to treasure: to recite under your breath, to whisper in someone’s ear, to declaim at a party.
    A.O. Scott, New York Times, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • Kelce talked Wednesday about the good vibes in the Chiefs facility on the latest episode of the New Heights podcast.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
  • The crows are back, talking to the dog again, and the other birds are singing in the trees.
    Joële Walinga, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Truman would never have harangued the international community that America is First, or obstructed every effort to better the lot of humanity by asking what’s in it for the U.S., not in coming decades but during this news cycle.
    Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Philadelphia Phillies fan Drew Feltwell wants people to lay off the woman who harangued him and his son over a home run ball at a game last week.
    George Ramsay, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The cycle can become so accidentally ubiquitous that the former kids who blissfully existed outside of whatever discourses these trends or bands started in their heyday wonder now, as adults, what was so bad about them in the first place.
    Brittany Spanos, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2025
  • Admissions officers want to see that students will contribute meaningfully to discourse on campus.
    Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Orate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/orate. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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