Definition of speak up

Short definition: The phrase speak up means saying what you think or feel clearly and with confidence, especially when you might usually stay quiet, whether it is to be heard better, share an opinion, or stand up for yourself.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the phrase speak up? The phrase speak up is very common in everyday English and is often used in conversations about confidence, fairness, and communication. People use it when someone needs to say something clearly, especially when they feel ignored, unheard, or uncomfortable. It can sound encouraging, supportive, or even urgent depending on the situation. You will hear it at work, at school, in relationships, and in public discussions. Below, each meaning is explained in a calm and natural way, so it feels human, clear, and easy to apply in real life.

speak up phrasal v. /spiːk ʌp/

Forms: speak up, speaks up, spoke up, speaking up
Related: speak v., voice n., opinion n.
Syllable: speak up

(Verb) To talk louder or more clearly so people can hear you.
To speak up means to raise your voice or speak more clearly because others cannot hear you well, often used in classrooms, meetings, or noisy places where your voice gets lost.

The teacher asked the student to speak up because the class could not hear his answer from the back of the room.

She had to speak up during the meeting since the air conditioner was so loud that her voice kept fading out.

He leaned closer to the microphone and finally spoke up so everyone in the hall could understand his message.

Synonyms: talk louder, raise your voice, speak clearly, project your voice, talk up, be audible, increase volume, make yourself heard, speak loudly, sound out, vocalize clearly, talk clearly
Antonyms: speak softly, whisper, mumble, lower your voice, stay quiet, hush, talk quietly, be silent, say nothing, keep quiet, hold back, mute yourself
(Verb) To express your opinion feelings or concerns instead of staying silent.
To speak up also means to share what you think or feel, especially when something feels wrong or unfair, and it often takes courage because it means not staying silent just to avoid conflict.

She finally decided to speak up about the unfair treatment at work after staying silent for months.

He encouraged his friend to speak up and explain how the comment had hurt him instead of pretending everything was fine.

When no one else reacted, she chose to speak up and defend the person being criticized.

Synonyms: voice an opinion, express yourself, speak out, say something, stand up, raise concerns, be honest, share your thoughts, tell the truth, assert yourself, open up, make your voice heard
Antonyms: stay silent, keep quiet, hold back, say nothing, suppress feelings, avoid speaking, stay passive, remain quiet, bottle up, ignore the issue, stay mute, keep it inside
(Verb) To defend someone or support a cause by speaking publicly.
In social or public situations, to speak up means to defend someone, support an idea, or stand against something harmful by using your voice openly and clearly.

Many people spoke up online to support the victims and demand change.

He chose to speak up for his coworker who was too afraid to defend herself.

The campaign asked citizens to speak up against corruption and unfair policies.

Synonyms: speak out, stand up for, defend, support openly, protest verbally, advocate, raise awareness, call out, back someone, take a stand, stand your ground, speak publicly
Antonyms: stay silent, ignore injustice, look away, avoid involvement, stay neutral, keep your head down, remain passive, do nothing, withdraw support, stay quiet, stay hidden, refuse to act
(Slang) An encouraging way to tell someone to be brave and say what they really think.
In casual slang, people say speak up as encouragement, meaning do not be shy or scared, just say what is on your mind and stop holding yourself back.

Come on, speak up, everyone wants to hear what you actually think about it.

His friends told him to speak up and finally tell her how he really felt.

She laughed and said, if you don’t like it, just speak up.

Synonyms: say it, be brave, don’t hold back, be honest, open your mouth, tell it straight, speak your mind, be bold, let it out, say your piece, talk freely, be real
Antonyms: keep quiet, be shy, stay silent, hold it in, be afraid, stay reserved, say nothing, avoid talking, stay low key, hide feelings, keep it to yourself, stay mute

An Explanation of the Word "speak up" in an Image

Comic-style speak up illustration with a megaphone, bold text, and speech bubbles representing confidence and clear communication — A colorful comic-style illustration featuring bold speak up text with a megaphone, speech bubbles, and dynamic bursts that symbolize confidence, expressing opinions, and the courage to be heard

Conversation Using the Phrase Speak Up

The following conversation takes place during a team meeting at the office. It shows how the phrase speak up is used in everyday English to talk about confidence, communication, and sharing ideas in a professional setting.

Michael: You have been quiet during the meeting, is everything okay?

Laura: I was not sure if my idea was good enough, so I did not speak up right away.

Michael: You should speak up, even if you are not completely sure, because your ideas could really help the team.

Laura: I guess I am just afraid of saying something wrong in front of everyone.

Michael: That feeling is normal, but speaking up is often better than staying silent and wondering later.

Laura: You are right, holding everything inside just makes me more nervous.

Michael: Next time, try to speak up calmly and explain your thoughts step by step.

Laura: I will try, because I do want to be more confident and involved.

Michael: Trust me, once you start to speak up more often, it will feel much easier.

Laura: Thanks, I really needed to hear that today.

Phrases Containing the Words Speak Up

The phrases below show how speak up is commonly used to talk about confidence, communication, and expressing thoughts in everyday English.

Speak up in class

To share ideas during lessons.

The teacher encouraged students to speak up in class so everyone could learn from different opinions and questions.

Speak up at work

To express ideas in the workplace.

He decided to speak up at work about the project timeline because staying silent would only cause more problems later.

Speak up for yourself

To defend your own needs.

She finally learned to speak up for herself instead of always agreeing just to avoid conflict.

Speak up for others

To defend someone else.

He chose to speak up for others who were afraid to say anything during the meeting.

Speak up loudly

To talk with more volume.

The manager asked everyone to speak up loudly because the room was large and noisy.

Speak up clearly

To talk in an easy-to-understand way.

Please speak up clearly so everyone on the call can understand your point.

Speak up when needed

To talk at the right moment.

Knowing when to speak up when needed can make a big difference in difficult situations.

Speak up about a problem

To report an issue.

She decided to speak up about a problem that had been ignored for too long.

Speak up confidently

To talk with self-belief.

When he spoke up confidently, people immediately started paying attention to what he was saying.

Speak up during meetings

To contribute ideas.

She was nervous at first, but she slowly learned to speak up during meetings and share her ideas.

Speak up more often

To be less quiet.

His manager encouraged him to speak up more often because his ideas were valuable.

Speak up honestly

To tell the truth.

It is not always easy to speak up honestly, but it helps build trust.

Speak up against unfairness

To challenge injustice.

Many people believe it is important to speak up against unfairness, even when it feels uncomfortable.

Speak up early

To talk before problems grow.

If you speak up early, small issues are easier to solve before they turn into big problems.

Speak up calmly

To express yourself without anger.

He tried to speak up calmly so the conversation would not turn into an argument.

Speak up in public

To talk in front of others.

Speaking up in public can feel scary, but it becomes easier with practice.

Speak up and listen

To communicate both ways.

Good communication means knowing when to speak up and listen to others as well.

Speak up politely

To express ideas with respect.

She managed to speak up politely while still making her opinion clear.

Speak up when uncomfortable

To talk when something feels wrong.

It is important to speak up when uncomfortable instead of ignoring your feelings.

Speak up with confidence

To talk without fear.

Once he learned to speak up with confidence, people started taking his ideas more seriously.

Words Rhyme with speak up

cup

pup

sup

yup

clup

makeup

wakeup

shakeup

breakup

backup

checkup

pickup

hiccup

lockup

mockup

setup

getup

letup

flare-up

grown-up

close-up

buttercup

ketchup

linkup

wrap-up

sum-up

step-up

straight-up

seven-up

chin-up

POS: Verb Phrase Category: Slang