Speak up meaning
Speak up means to speak more loudly so people can hear you. It can also mean to say clearly what you think, often to support someone.
speak up
speak up · spoke · spoken · speaking
Could you speak up? We can’t hear you at the back.
Speak up meanings and examples
2 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Speak more loudly so people can hear you
speak up
- Could you speak up? We can’t hear you at the back.
- Grandpa can’t hear well, so you need to speak up.
- She spoke up so the whole class could hear.
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2
Say clearly what you think, often to support someone
speak up
- If you don’t agree, speak up!
- Nobody spoke up for the new boy when he was blamed.
- I wish I had spoken up in the meeting.
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use speak up in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is speak up separable?
Speak up has no object. Use for to support someone: speak up for your friend. Use about or against for a topic: speak up about safety.
Speak up is softer than speak out. Speak out is usually public and strong, often against something unfair.
Verb tenses for speak up
| Present | I speak up · she speaks up |
|---|---|
| Past | spoke up |
| Present perfect | have spoken up |
| -ing form | speaking up |
Common mistakes with speak up
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: Can you speak up louder?
Right: Can you speak up?
Speak up already means speak more loudly.
Wrong: She spoke up her opinion in class.
Right: She spoke up in class and gave her opinion.
Speak up has no object. Use give or say for the opinion.
Wrong: Nobody spoke up to help me.
Right: Nobody spoke up for me.
To support someone, say speak up for them.
Synonyms and opposites of speak up
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- speak outsay publicly that something is wrong
- stand up fordefend someone or something
- raise your voicespeak louder, often because you are angry
Opposite
- shut upstop talking; often rude
- keep quietnot say anything
Speak up quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1The line is bad. Can you ___ a bit?
Speak up means speak more loudly.
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2Choose the right sentence.
To support someone, use speak up for.
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3Your manager says, “If something is wrong, speak up.” What does she want?
Speak up can mean say what you think clearly.
Find your level
The phrasal verbs test adapts as you answer, from A2 to C1, and shows which ones you miss.
- get upA1get out of bed after you sleep
- take upB1start a new hobby or activity
- put upB1fix something to a wall, or raise something higher
- look upA2find information in a dictionary, a book or online
- go upB1become higher, like a price, a number or a temperature
- come upB2be mentioned or talked about
- give upB1stop doing or having something, often a habit
- break upB1end a romantic relationship
Speak up FAQ
Questions people ask about speak up.
Speak up vs speak out: what is the difference?
Speak up can mean talk louder or give your opinion. Speak out is stronger and more public, often against something wrong.
Is speak up polite?
Could you speak up, please? is polite. Speak up! alone can sound like an order.
What does speak up for yourself mean?
It means say what you need or think, and do not let others decide for you. You need to speak up for yourself at work.
Use speak up in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.