verb

talk

tawk

verb

To communicate using spoken words.

"We talked for hours about our plans for the future."

"Can we talk in private for a minute?"

To discuss a particular subject.

"The board talked business over lunch."

noun

A conversation, discussion, or informal speech.

"She gave a talk on climate change at the conference."

"They had a serious talk about money."

Rumor or gossip circulating about someone or something.

"There's talk of layoffs coming next month."

How to Use Talk

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo speak with someone, or (as a noun) a conversation, lecture, or bit of gossip.

Common mistake

"Talk to" someone often implies one-directional speaking, while "talk with" suggests a two-way conversation — the distinction is subtle and both are widely used interchangeably.

Common pairings

talk to someone small talk give a talk talk of the town

Word Forms

talked past tense, talk plural, talked plural, talks plural, talks singular, talk singular, talked singular, talkest singular, talkedst singular, talketh singular

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We _____ for hours about our plans for the future.

Etymology

From Middle English talken, related to "tale" and "tell," and ultimately traced back to a root meaning "to count or recount."

Synonyms

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chat communicate dictate klatch let on orate make known say speak speechify tell write up

Antonyms

silence

Related Words

say sound chat law prattle speak tell count

Rhymes for talk

walk Falk chalk stalk catwalk sidewalk cakewalk crosswalk sleepwalk boardwalk beanstalk

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chat communicate dictate klatch let on orate make known say speak speechify tell write up