speak of

phrasal verb

spoke of; spoken of; speaking of; speaks of
1
: to talk or write about (someone or something) : to mention (a subject) in speech or writing
Speaking of Jill, where is she?
It was the first time she spoke of going to law school.
She never speaks of her suffering during the war.
In the letter, he spoke of feeling ill.
2
: to indicate or suggest (something)
His diaries speak of a troubled mind.
3
: to talk about (someone or something) in a specified way
He spoke well/highly/favorably of both job candidates.
4
chiefly US : to show that (someone or something) does or does not deserve to be praised, admired, etc.
The continued success of the business speaks well of their judgment.
Her bad behavior speaks poorly of her upbringing.

Examples of speak of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The reader also spoke of voters going to the polls, early, wearing garbage bags — to symbolize their objection to President Biden and their support of Donald Trump. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 4 Nov. 2024 Other people involved in the shipwreck world—maritime archeologists, divers, treasure hunters—speak of the thrill and addiction of their discoveries. Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024 In the search for answers for Johnson-Davis' family, Parker also speaks of her own aunt, who was raped and beaten beyond recognition by a group of men. Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024 In addition, Frostrup also spoke of her mother, who suffers from dementia, and her mother-in-law, who has osteoporosis—both conditions linked to estrogen decline. Sandra Rose Salathe, Flow Space, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for speak of 

Dictionary Entries Near speak of

Cite this Entry

“Speak of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speak%20of. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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