spoken

adjective

spo·​ken ˈspō-kən How to pronounce spoken (audio)
1
: delivered by word of mouth : oral
2
: characterized by speaking in (such) a manner
used in combination
soft-spoken
plainspoken

Examples of spoken in a Sentence

a spoken agreement is too easily broken a politician who knows the power of the spoken word
Recent Examples on the Web Power is hidden by nature, only coming to light through spoken rituals. Ben Croll, Variety, 21 Mar. 2024 Though filmed in Vancouver, the vast majority of Shōgun’s spoken lines are in Japanese, delivered by an almost exclusively Japanese cast. Geoffrey Bunting, Rolling Stone, 29 Feb. 2024 The adaptation features every song from the original score, with intermittent spoken dialogue. Details: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Music Hall, 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 10 Jan. 2024 Whether recollections of racial animus or confessions of desire, the spoken words with which Pigossi and Bland are saddled echo an amateurish high school stage productions. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024 The conference will open with a spoken word performance by Brianna West, author of The Pivot Year, followed by an interview. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Mar. 2024 Of the various methods of communicating, the spoken word is the most widely used. John Lowe, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that speech protected by the First Amendment encompasses more than the spoken word. USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024 In addition to acting, Fishback is also a skilled spoken word poet and playwright. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spoken.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

past participle of speak

First Known Use

1560, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of spoken was in 1560

Dictionary Entries Near spoken

Cite this Entry

“Spoken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spoken. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

spoken

adjective
spo·​ken ˈspō-kən How to pronounce spoken (audio)
1
: given by or using speech
a spoken message
the spoken language
2
: speaking in a specified manner
soft-spoken
plainspoken

More from Merriam-Webster on spoken

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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