speaking
the utterance of intelligible speech
How often you will meet it
Rank 699 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 26,929 times across 175,113 chapters — 0.013% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 1,000 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
noun
- the utterance of intelligible speech also: speech production
- delivering an address to a public audience also: public speaking, speechmaking, oral presentation people came to see the candidates and hear the speechmaking
adjective
- capable of or involving speech or speaking human beings--the speaking animalsa speaking part in the play
speaking in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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Pray, why not try, for novelty, a kind of solo speaking?
Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 08, May 21, 1870 · Various · Chapter 1
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The Duffer, who never thought, because speaking was so much easier, grew impatient at John's silence.
The Hill: A Romance of Friendship · Horace Annesley Vachell · Chapter 1
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She slipped out of his hold without speaking, and he stooped down and felt for the key.
Ethan Frome · Edith Wharton · Chapter 1
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Still the Athenian's way of speaking pleased him, and he told him to go on with his story.
An Egyptian Princess — Volume 07 · Georg Ebers · Chapter 1
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Two prominent Members of the Cabinet are said not to be on speaking terms, and are practising the dumb alphabet in consequence.
Punch — Volume 99, August 16, 1890 · Various · Chapter 1