1
a
: the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words
b
: exchange of spoken words : conversation
4
: the power of expressing or communicating thoughts by speaking
Examples of speech in a Sentence
She has to make a speech at the convention.
a graduation speech about embracing future challenges
I was so flustered that I momentarily lost the power of speech.
Slang is used mostly in informal speech.
Many words are more common in speech than in writing.
Recent Examples on the Web
West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin’s shows were known for the walk and talk, but Sheridan favors the stop and talk, where one of his squinty-eyed, seen-it-all stand-ins launches into a speech.
—
Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2025
In Tuesday’s speech, Trump blamed the surge on his Democratic predecessor.
—Steve Peoples, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2025
But minutes into Trump’s speech, Rep. Al Green (D-TX), 77, was forcibly removed from the House chamber for his persistent demonstration.
—Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
Sharing the stage with prominent figures like Elon Musk, Rudy Giuliani, and Tucker Carlson, Trump Jr. delivered a speech that energized the crowd and reinforced the campaign's key messages.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speech
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 9 Mar. 2025
In Tuesday’s speech, Trump blamed the surge on his Democratic predecessor.
—Steve Peoples, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2025
But minutes into Trump’s speech, Rep. Al Green (D-TX), 77, was forcibly removed from the House chamber for his persistent demonstration.
—Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
Sharing the stage with prominent figures like Elon Musk, Rudy Giuliani, and Tucker Carlson, Trump Jr. delivered a speech that energized the crowd and reinforced the campaign's key messages.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for speech
Cite this Entry
“Speech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speech. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
speech
noun1
: the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words
2
a
: something that is spoken
b
: a public talk
3
: a form of communication (as a language or dialect) used by a particular group
4
: the power of expressing or communicating thoughts by speaking
Medical Definition
speech
noun
: the communication or expression of thoughts in spoken words
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