spoken

adjective

spo·​ken ˈspō-kən How to pronounce spoken (audio)
1
: delivered by word of mouth : oral
2
: characterized by speaking in (such) a manner
used in combination
soft-spoken
plainspoken

Examples of spoken in a Sentence

a spoken agreement is too easily broken a politician who knows the power of the spoken word
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.
But Monet also injected some of that positive, punchy energy through transitions between chapter breaks with more poetic group shots and visual art with spoken word, stand-up, and speeches by Black women underneath. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2024 Legendary horror actor Vincent Price performed the spoken word portion of the song. Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024 By adopting a spoken word format, Lillard highlights his roots and illustrates how his life on the court parallels his work in the studio, each realm informing the other in discipline and expression. Ty Gaskins, WWD, 30 Oct. 2024 Transcription, turning spoken words into text, might seem simple, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. Beth Worthy, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for spoken 

Word History

Etymology

past participle of speak

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spoken was in 1560

Dictionary Entries Near spoken

Cite this Entry

“Spoken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spoken. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

spoken

adjective
spo·​ken ˈspō-kən How to pronounce spoken (audio)
1
: given by or using speech
a spoken message
the spoken language
2
: speaking in a specified manner
soft-spoken
plainspoken

More from Merriam-Webster on spoken

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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