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
  • In addition to testimony about Tammy's physical health, Emma also spoke about her father's religious beliefs, saying that her mother shared them.
    Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
  • The company also spoke about NVLink Fusion, a rack-scale scale up fabric, shown in concept below.
    Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In between all the jokes, the film stops more than once to basically lecture on this sad state of affairs, an admirable Sturges-like approach that gets laid on thick, perhaps too thick to merge successfully with the largely comedic rhythm Ansari has established so well.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Coach Eli Drinkwitz brought in guest speakers (including Hill) to lecture players on the rivalry.
    Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • Does Joyce’s fellow drama kid Alan (Eric Wiegand) hoist a skull aloft and declaim some Shakespeare in a bad English accent?
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Crunch talks The industry split on this issue comes as auto bosses prepare to meet the EU’s von der Leyen on Friday.
    Sam Meredith, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
  • What To Include In Your Martial Conversations When talking to legal counsel, be as specific as possible.
    Michael Gargiulo, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • That entanglement allowed Biden to traverse the country haranguing business on equity, climate, daycare, union labor, and other whole-of-government crusades—while taunting Republicans who relented for the sake of home-district dollars.
    Clyde Wayne Crews Jr, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 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 11 Sep. 2025.

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