speaking

[spee-king]

noun

1. the act, utterance, or discourse of a person who speaks.

2. speakings, literary works composed for recitation, as ancient bardic poetry; oral literature.

adjective

1. that speaks.

2. used in, suited to, or involving speaking or talking.

   the speaking voice.

3. of or relating to declamation.

4. giving information as if by speech.

   a speaking proof of a thing.

5. highly expressive.

   speaking eyes.

6. lifelike.

   a speaking likeness.

speaking

/ ˈspiːkɪŋ /

adjective

1. (prenominal) eloquent, impressive, or striking

2. 1. able to speak

   2. (in combination) able to speak a particular language

      French-speaking

Other Word Forms

• speakingly adverb
• speakingness noun
• nonspeaking adjective
• well-speaking adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of speaking¹

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; speak, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. not on speaking terms, not or no longer in a relationship of open, willing, or ready communication, as because of resentment or estrangement.

   They had a squabble during the holidays, and now they're not on speaking terms.

2. on speaking terms,

   1. in a relationship close enough for or limited to friendly superficialities.

      I don't know the hosts well, but we are certainly on speaking terms.

   2. in a relationship of open, willing, or ready communication.

      Now that the debt has been settled, I hope you and your partner are on speaking terms again.

Example Sentences

But speaking at her party's UK conference in Birmingham, Laura Anne Jones questioned whether the Welsh Parliament should continue if Reform could not make it "work for Wales".

From BBC

“It’s certainly the end of the original cast,” Fellowes says, speaking separately over Zoom from his home in England.

From Los Angeles Times

Veterans speaking at the roundtable had diverse views on the type of housing needed.

From Los Angeles Times

The Foreign Office said it was speaking to the 19-year-old's family but confirmed only one in-person visit had been made to the prison, on 16 May.

From BBC

Byers, speaking on info from his sources, said that Ellison “plans to give Bari a role at CBS News that would… task his fellow Millennial with guiding the editorial direction of the division.”

From Salon