speak up

verb

spoke up; spoken up; speaking up; speaks up
Synonyms of speak upnext

intransitive verb

1
: to speak loudly and distinctly
2
: to express an opinion freely
speak up for truth and justice …Clive Bell

Examples of speak up in a Sentence

she's never been afraid to speak up at town meetings
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
No matter what year you were born in, the year of the Fire Horse is a time to speak up about your desires, be courageous in sharing your love, and take calculated risks. Annabel Gat, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026 The feeling of making someone’s day with one sentence is so much more impactful than the fear of speaking up. Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026 There should be more walkouts like this across our communities as well as more opportunities where students are encouraged to speak up for what is right and stand up for their neighbors. Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026 What followed was not chaos, but something more deliberate—a narrowing of what could be said publicly, to punish those who spoke up, and to quietly erase stories that needed to be told. Adrianne Wright, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for speak up

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of speak up was in 1681

Cite this Entry

“Speak up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speak%20up. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

speak up

verb

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