speak up

UK/ˌspiːk ˈʌp/US/ˌspik ˈʌp/

verb

To talk more loudly or clearly.

“Speak up if I'm bothering you.”

Similar
opinespeak outanimadvertsound off
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Meanings

verbspeak up (third-person singular simple present speaks up, present participle speaking up, simple past spoke up, past participle spoken up)

present singular third person speaks up · participle present speaking up · past spoke up · participle past spoken up

  1. idiomaticTo talk more loudly or clearly.

    Could you speak up? I can't hear you.

  2. idiomaticTo make oneself or one's opinions known; to advocate or assert oneself.

    Speak up if I'm bothering you.

    1 more example

    I feel that somebody has to speak up for those oppressed by the system.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbexpress one's opinion openly and without fear or hesitation

Similar
opinespeak outanimadvertsound off
Broader
declare
Also see
animadvertopinesound offspeak outtalk up

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Finnish puhua kovempaa, korottaa ääntään
  • puhua kovempaato talk more loudly or plainly
  • korottaa ääntäänto talk more loudly or plainly
  • sanoa ääneento make oneself or one's opinions known
German lauter sprechen, den Mund aufmachen
  • lauter sprechento talk more loudly or plainly
  • den Mund aufmachento talk more loudly or plainly
  • einsetzento make oneself or one's opinions known
  • eintretento make oneself or one's opinions known
  • den Mund aufmachento make oneself or one's opinions known
  • sagento make oneself or one's opinions known
  • seine Meinung sagento make oneself or one's opinions known
Hungarian hangosabban/érthetőbben/tagoltabban beszél, felemeli a hangját
  • hangosabban/érthetőbben/tagoltabban beszélto talk more loudly or plainly
  • felemeli a hangjátto talk more loudly or plainly
  • kiállto make oneself or one's opinions known
  • felszólalto make oneself or one's opinions known
  • szót emelto make oneself or one's opinions known
  • felemeli a szavátto make oneself or one's opinions known
  • szólto make oneself or one's opinions known
Polish mówić głośniej, podnosić głos
  • mówić głośniejto talk more loudly or plainly
  • podnosić głosto talk more loudly or plainly
  • podnieść głosto talk more loudly or plainly
  • odzywać sięto make oneself or one's opinions known
  • odezwać sięto make oneself or one's opinions known
  • wypowiadać sięto make oneself or one's opinions known
  • wypowiedzieć sięto make oneself or one's opinions known
Portuguese falar mais alto, falar mais claro/claramente
  • falar mais altoto talk more loudly or plainly
  • falar mais claro/claramenteto talk more loudly or plainly
  • erguer a vozto talk more loudly or plainly
  • erguer a vozto make oneself or one's opinions known
  • fazer-se ouvirto make oneself or one's opinions known
Russian говорить громче, высказываться
  • говорить громче (govoritʹ)to talk more loudly or plainly
  • высказываться (vyskazyvatʹsja)to make oneself or one's opinions known
Spanish hablar más alto, hablar más fuerte
  • hablar más altoto talk more loudly or plainly
  • hablar más fuerteto talk more loudly or plainly
Swedish säga ifrån
  • säga ifrånto make oneself or one's opinions known
Cite this entry
APA

speak up. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/speak%20up

MLA

“speak up.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/speak%20up. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “speak up,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/speak%20up.

Source: speak up on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.