talk

SayTAWK/tɔk//tɔːk/

Verbtalks, talking, talked

Noun pluraltalks

Often confused with speak

18 meanings of talk

Practice

1
discussverbtransitive
To speak with someone, sharing ideas or news, often about a certain subject.
Can I talk to you for a minute?
They talked on the phone until midnight.
UsageSay talk to someone about something.
Similarspeak, chat
2
discussionnouncountable or uncountable
A conversation between people, often about something serious but in a relaxed way.
My dad and I had a long talk about my plans after high school.
After a long talk, they finally made up.
UsageSay have a talk with someone.
Similarconversation, chat, discussion
Note
3
formal meetingnouncountable or uncountable
A meeting where people come together to discuss an important matter.
The two sides held talks to end the dispute.
Peace talks between the countries continued for weeks.
UsageSay peace talks or in talks.
Similarmeeting, discussion, conference, debate
Note
4
lecturenouncountable or uncountable
A speech given to teach or inform a group of people.
She gave a talk about recycling at school.
The author's talk drew a big crowd.
UsageSay give a talk on something.
Similarlecture, speech, presentation, address
5
real influenceverbcolloquialtransitive
To be the real cause of what someone says, as in that's the wine talking.
Like slowly convincing a friend to agree with your idea.
Sorry I shouted at you earlier. That was the tiredness talking.
Don't take what he says tonight too seriously. That's the beer talking.
Note

Less common meanings

6
hot topicnouncountable or uncountable
The subject that almost everyone is discussing at a certain time.
Like the one story everyone at school keeps whispering about.
Her sudden promotion was the talk of the office for weeks.
After the scandal, the mayor became the talk of the entire city.
UsageSay the talk of the town.
7
verbcolloquialtransitive
Used to point out how big, costly, or hard something really is.
If you want a new car, we're talking at least twenty thousand dollars.
Fixing that old car? You're talking hundreds of dollars.
UsageSay we're talking + an amount: we're talking hundreds of dollars.
8
noununcountable
Big promises or boasts that do not lead to real action.
Like a big box that turns out to be empty inside.
His grand plans turned out to be just talk.
Their threats are only talk and never amount to anything.
UsageSay someone is all talk.
Similarrhetoric, bluster, boasting
Oppositeaction
9
verbintransitive
To say words out loud, or to be able to speak.
Our baby girl is just learning to talk.
Can you talk a bit louder? I can't hear you.
UsageHe can't talk. You say words and tell people things.
Similarspeak
10
spread gossipverbintransitive
To spread stories about other people's private lives.
People will talk if you keep arriving late.
The neighbors started to talk after the police came.
UsageSay people will talk.
Similargossip
11
rumorsnoununcountable
Things people say about others, often not proven to be true.
Like a story that grows bigger as it passes from person to person.
There's talk that the boss is leaving, but nobody knows for sure.
Don't believe all the talk you hear.
UsageSay there's talk of a strike.
Similargossip, rumor, hearsay
12
facts of lifenouncountable or uncountable
The conversation in which a parent first explains sex to their child.
His dad finally sat him down and gave him the talk.
Many parents dread having the talk with their teenager.
UsageSay the talk.
Note
13
confessverbslangintransitive
To tell the police or others about a crime, often naming the people involved.
Like a teammate telling the teacher who really broke the window.
The police hoped the prisoner would finally talk.
One of the gang talked, and the rest were arrested.
UsageSay make him talk.
Similarconfess, squeal, crack, sing
Note
14
use a languageverbcolloquialtransitive
To speak a particular language.
Do you talk Spanish at home?
They were talking Spanish, so I couldn't follow.
UsageUsually people say speak a language.
Similarspeak
15
nounUScountable or uncountable
The conversation where Black parents teach their child how to stay safe from racism and police violence.
Like many Black parents, they gave their son the talk about dealing with police.
Many Black families treat the talk as a necessary part of raising kids.
UsageSay have the talk.
Note
16
words not deedsverbtransitive
To say something in words instead of actually doing it.
Like someone who says they're brave but runs at the first sign of trouble.
They talk a good fight, but they always back down in the end.
My brother talks a good game, but he never actually fixes anything.
UsageSay someone talks reform but does nothing.
Similarprofess, preach
Note
17
hypocriteverbintransitive
To criticize someone for doing what you do yourself.
Like one kid telling another not to yell while yelling it.
You're one to talk, leaving your dishes everywhere too.
He criticized my spending, but honestly he can talk.
UsageSay look who's talking.
18
verbtransitive
To make someone agree to do something, or not to do it, by what you say to them.
My friends tried to talk me into going on the roller coaster.
She talked her brother out of quitting school.
UsageSay talk someone into or out of something.
Similarpersuade, coax, cajole

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of talk apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1, 5, 7, 9–10, 13–14, 16–18

It comes from an old English word meaning to talk or chat. It is related to the word "tell".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Talk descends from an older English word meaning to talk or chat; the proposed Old English form is reconstructed. en.wiktionary.org
Talk and tell are etymologically related. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 2–4, 6, 8, 11–12, 15

This noun comes from the verb "talk".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

The noun talk derives from the verb talk. en.wiktionary.org