talk

1 of 2

verb

ˈtȯk 

talked; talking; talks

intransitive verb

1

a

: to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken words or sign language : converse

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 (a language) for conversing or communicating : speak

… the peculiar French patois that he talked.

—Aaron Copland

3

a

: to speak idly : prate

b

: gossip

c

: to reveal secret or confidential information

4

: to give a talk : lecture

transitive verb

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

plural talkers

see also:

talk back talk sense talk through one's hat talk turkey

talk

2 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms of talk

Verb

• speak
• lecture

Noun

• speech

Examples of talk in a Sentence

Verb

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.

Noun

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 on the Web

Verb

Richard Gadd talks the prison scene, the meaning behind the title, and the last few minutes. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 29 May 2026

Doctors have historically done a bad job counseling patients about weight loss, and many people aren’t comfortable talking to their primary care doctor about it, Ard said. —Maia Rosenfeld, NBC news, 29 May 2026

Noun

The Iranian official added that current US-Iran talks are focused on ending the war, and nuclear issues are not currently being discussed. —Alayna Treene, CNN Money, 30 May 2026

The Israeli military early Thursday pounded Lebanon’s fourth largest city, killing at least 14 people across the south of the country in its ongoing military escalation against the Hezbollah group ahead of crucial talks in Washington. —Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 29 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English; akin to Old English talu tale

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing talk

• all talk
• all talk and no action
• baby talk
• back talk
• chalk talk
• cross talk
• double-talk
• fast-talk
• fine one to talk
• happy talk
• pep talk
• pillow talk
• real talk
• self-talk
• smack talk
• small talk
• speak/talk of the devil
• speak/talk the same language
• speak/talk with (a) forked tongue
• straight talk
• street talk
• sweet talk
• table talk
• talk a blue streak
• talk about
• talk a good game
• talk around
• talk at
• talk back
• talk down
• talk down to
• talk into
• talk is cheap
• talk nineteen to the dozen
• talk of
• talk (oneself) out of (something)
• talk one's way
• talk one's way out of (something)
• talk out
• talk out of
• talk over
• talk radio
• talk round
• talk sense
• talk shop
• talk show
• talk someone's ear off
• talk (some) sense into/to
• talk the hind leg(s) off a donkey
• talk therapy
• talk the talk
• talk through
• talk through one's hat
• talk tough
• talk trash
• talk turkey
• talk up
• talk your head off
• the talk of the town
• trash talk

Rhymes for talk

• balk
• baulk
• bloc
• bock
• broch
• brock
• calk
• caulk
• chalk
• chock
• clock
• cock

Kids Definition

talk

1 of 2 verb

ˈtȯk 

1

: to express in speech

talk sense

2

: to speak about : discuss

talk business

3

: to influence, affect, or cause by talking

talked us into agreeing

4

: to use for communicating

talk sign language

5

a

: to express or exchange ideas by means of spoken words

b

: to communicate in any way

the computer talks to the printer

6

a

: to spread gossip

b

: to reveal secret information

tried to make the suspect talk

talker noun

talk

2 of 2 noun

1

: the act or an instance of talking

2

: a way of speaking

3

: pointless or useless discussion

all talk and no action

4

: a formal discussion or exchange of views : conference

5

: rumor entry 1 sense 1, gossip

6

: the topic of comment or gossip

it's the talk of the town