Definition of oratenext
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for orate
Verb
  • After the game, manager Hinch spoke about planning the special moment ahead of Verlander’s official retirement with the help of Upton.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026
  • If your flight is impacted, speak to a customer service agent at the airport and Hopper recommends reaching out to the airline through their app or by giving them a call at the same time as well.
    — Ayesha Ali, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Professors structure lectures with an awareness of how a sentence might circulate online.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Especially for him in the same interview to be lecturing my party on democracy and norms.
    — NBC news, NBC news, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • And the conversations between Anna and Molly, Ella and Julia (Ella’s friend and a counterpart of Molly), as well as the stammering and declaiming when Anna talks to herself, are almost always about men.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Woody Harrelson declaims every line, upping the relentless factor of Phil’s mania.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • And Newfies talked their own way, in peculiar accents from district to district.
    — Paul Theroux, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Plenty of junior aides know things, and plenty of people who talk to people who work in the White House or work in a government agency know things.
    — Emma Specter, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • No president has publicly harangued and harassed the Fed more to lower interest rates.
    — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Benatia got a three-month suspension for haranguing a fourth official.
    — Tom Williams, New York Times, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • Florence is one of the many municipalities taking action in response to discourse around the heavy presence of Flock Safety’s license plate readers.
    — Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Specifically, the majority of debate and discourse around the CLARITY Act centers around not only the ability of stablecoin issues to provide yield and yield adjacent products, but how these institutions should be regulated.
    — Sean Stein Smith, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Orate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/orate. Accessed 30 Sep. 2026.

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