TKG English Learner's Dictionary

talk

talkverb

American /tɔk/ British /tɔːk/
third-person singular talks past tense talked past participle talked present participle talking
very commondefining vocabulary

To talk is to say things to other people, usually in a conversation, or to be able to use words at all.

  1. have a conversationsay things to another person, or exchange words with them in a conversation

    intransitive [I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

    Collocations

    verb + preposition talk to someone, talk with someone, talk about something
    verb + adverb talk quietly, talk loudly, talk fast, talk openly, talk endlessly
    phrase talk on the phone, talk to yourself, talk in your sleep, talk face to face, we need to talk

    Synonyms chat (chat is informal, for a friendly talk about small things); converse (converse is formal)

    Compare speak (speak is a little more formal and is used for a language and for addressing a group; the note at say compares say, tell, speak, and talk); say

    For translators (sense 1)

    Grammar trap The person takes to or with: talk to me, not talk me. Talk never takes a that-clause: not he talked that, but he said that. The subject of the conversation takes about: talk about the plan.

  2. discuss a subjectdiscuss a particular subject with someone

    transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj] verb + object [V + obj]

    Collocations

    verb + noun talk business, talk politics, talk shop, talk sense, talk nonsense, talk money
    phrase we need to talk, let's talk, talk about it

    Synonyms discuss (discuss takes the subject as its object: discuss the plan)

    Compare discuss

    1. ahold formal discussions in order to reach an agreement

      intransitive [I]

    For translators (sense 2)

    Grammar trap A few subjects are direct objects with no article: talk business, talk politics, talk shop. Otherwise the subject takes about.

  3. to a groupspeak to a group of people about a subject, usually not very formally

    intransitive [I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

    Collocations

    verb + preposition talk to a group, talk about a subject, talk on a subject
    phrase invite someone to talk, talk for an hour

    Synonyms speak (speak is the usual word for a formal speech)

  4. be able to speakbe able to use words

    intransitive [I]

    Collocations

    phrase learn to talk, start talking, begin to talk

    1. agive secret information to the police or to an enemy

      intransitive [I] informal

      Collocations

      phrase make someone talk, refuse to talk

  5. about private livessay things about other people and what they do, in a way that they would not like

    intransitive [I] disapproving

    Collocations

    phrase people will talk, give people something to talk about, get people talking

    Synonyms gossip

Phrases

talk someone into something

make someone agree to do something by talking to them

Often talk someone into doing something.

talk someone out of something

make someone decide not to do something by talking to them

Often talk someone out of doing something.

now you're talking informal

that is a much better idea

Said when someone finally suggests something you like.

  • "How about pizza instead?" "Now you're talking!"

talk big informaldisapproving

speak proudly about what you can do or will do, without being able to prove it

talking of something informal

now that something has been mentioned

Speaking of is more common, especially in American English.

be talking something informal

mean an amount or a situation as big or as serious as the one named

Used, usually with we, to make clear how big or serious something is.

  • If we buy the house, we're talking years of debt.
  • We're not talking a small repair here; the whole roof needs replacing.

Word family

  • talk
  • talkative
  • talker
  • talk back (phrasal verb)
  • talk down (phrasal verb)
  • talk over (phrasal verb)
  • talk through (phrasal verb)
  • talk up (phrasal verb)

Usage

Talk is the everyday verb for a conversation and is a little less formal than speak. Talk to someone and talk with someone both mean having a conversation; with suggests that both people take part equally. Talk about is the usual way to name the subject; talk of is more formal or literary.

Common mistakes

I talked him about it. I talked to him about it.
The person takes to or with after talk.
He talked that he was tired. He said that he was tired.
Talk does not report exact words with a that-clause; use say or tell.
Do you talk English? Do you speak English?
For a language, use speak; talk is for conversation.

See also conversation; small talk

For translators

Meaning across languages Talk and speak are often one verb in other languages; the note at speak explains when English prefers each. Talk is the verb for a conversation; it does not report exact words with a that-clause (that is the work of say and tell), though it can name a topic with about or of.
Grammar trap The person takes to or with: talk to me, not talk me. Talk never takes a that-clause: not he talked that, but he said that. The subject of the conversation takes about: talk about the plan; a few subjects are direct objects: talk business, talk politics.
Pronunciation trap The l in talk is silent: the word sounds like tawk and rhymes with walk and chalk.