verb
Etymology: Middle English speken out, from speken to speak + out
intransitive verb
1. : to speak loud enough to be heard
asked him to speak out or sit down
2. : to speak boldly or unreservedly
stand up and speak out for the president's whole program — Sinclair Weeks
spoke out … forthrightly against the carpetbag militia — American Guide Series: Arkansas
3. : to express an opinion freely and frankly
everyone of us has the obligation to speak out, to exchange ideas — Wendell Willkie
transitive verb
: to make known verbally : declare
spoke out his mind and showed that he was not too well pleased — Augustus Jessopp