Meaning & use
speaks out
Last updated
“speaks out” is a form of “speak out”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
verbintransitive
Says something publicly and firmly, especially to criticize or defend something.
Grammar: No object; often followed by 'against' or 'about'.
Patterns
- speak out against something
- speak out about something
- speak out in favor of something
She speaks out against bullying whenever she gets the chance.
The doctor speaks out about the dangers of smoking.
He rarely speaks out in meetings, but today he did.
Word forms
| base form | speak out |
|---|---|
| past tense | spoke out |
| past participle | spoken out |
| -ing form | speaking out |
Common combinations
- speak out against
- Many citizens spoke out against the new tax.
- speak out about
- She spoke out about the unfair treatment of workers.
- speak out in favor of
- The group speaks out in favor of equal rights.
- speak out publicly
- He spoke out publicly for the first time.
Synonyms and how they differ
- protest
- Stronger and often involves action; 'speak out' focuses on expressing an opinion openly.
- object
- More formal and often used in official contexts; 'speak out' is more personal and public.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: speaks out or speak up?
speaks out vs speak up
'Speak up' can mean to talk louder or to express your opinion; 'speak out' specifically means to speak publicly about an issue.
Practice
She often ______ against injustice.
Choose one answer.
'Speaks out against' means publicly criticizes. 'Speaks up' would need 'for' or 'about' to fit here, and 'speaks for' means represents someone.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “speaks out”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.