bespeak
verb
be·speak bi-ˈspēk 
bē-
bespoke bi-ˈspōk
bē-
; bespoken bi-ˈspō-kən bē-
; bespeaking transitive verb
1
: to hire, engage, or claim beforehand
2
: to speak to especially with formality : address
3
: request
bespeak a favor
4
a
: indicate, signify
her performance bespeaks considerable practice
b
: to show beforehand : foretell
Synonyms
- book
- reserve
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Her newest album bespeaks a great talent for writing songs. bespoke the rental car weeks in advance of their trip
Recent Examples on the Web His actions bespeak a prime-time TV blowhard who understands how objectionable his rhetoric has become. 
Washington Post, 6 May 2022 Hard luxuries bespeak a connection to history and tend to remain in families for generations. Rhonda K. Garelick, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2021 To several local Native American tribes, including the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, the Ventura County site’s cave drawings and rock shelters bespeak a cultural heritage dating back centuries. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2020 The UC Davis researchers, from the school’s Violence Prevention Project, found that the fears driving the surge in gun sales bespeak a nation suffering a potentially serious crisis of confidence. Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2020 For a contemporary American reader, there are a few jarring moments that bespeak the author’s ignorance, or worse, of black American life (not least of which is a black character named Odysseus Cotton). Andrew Martin, Harper's Magazine, 15 Sep. 2020 His playing bespoke an investment in the entire lineage of jazz trumpet playing. Giovanni Russonello, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Apr. 2020 However, the game isn't due until September 17 after a delay pushed it back from its original April release, which is likely the reason behind the timing of Nvidia’s bespoke GPU. Brad Chacos, PCWorld, 18 Feb. 2020 The many positive responses on social media bespeak considerable support for his take-no-prisoners public attitude toward gang members who exert de facto control of entire neighborhoods and towns. Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2020 See More
Washington Post, 6 May 2022 Hard luxuries bespeak a connection to history and tend to remain in families for generations. Rhonda K. Garelick, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2021 To several local Native American tribes, including the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, the Ventura County site’s cave drawings and rock shelters bespeak a cultural heritage dating back centuries. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2020 The UC Davis researchers, from the school’s Violence Prevention Project, found that the fears driving the surge in gun sales bespeak a nation suffering a potentially serious crisis of confidence. Melissa Healy, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2020 For a contemporary American reader, there are a few jarring moments that bespeak the author’s ignorance, or worse, of black American life (not least of which is a black character named Odysseus Cotton). Andrew Martin, Harper's Magazine, 15 Sep. 2020 His playing bespoke an investment in the entire lineage of jazz trumpet playing. Giovanni Russonello, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Apr. 2020 However, the game isn't due until September 17 after a delay pushed it back from its original April release, which is likely the reason behind the timing of Nvidia’s bespoke GPU. Brad Chacos, PCWorld, 18 Feb. 2020 The many positive responses on social media bespeak considerable support for his take-no-prisoners public attitude toward gang members who exert de facto control of entire neighborhoods and towns. Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2020 See More Word History
First Known Use
1533, in the meaning defined at sense 1
bespeaking
verb
1
as in reserving
to arrange to have something (as a hotel room) held for one's future use bespoke the rental car weeks in advance of their trip Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- reserving
- booking
- hiring
- retaining
- engaging
- contracting
- earmarking
2
as in revealing
to make known (something abstract) through outward signs her expression throughout the meeting bespoke great boredom Synonyms & Similar Words
- revealing
- displaying
- evincing
- showing
- betraying
- demonstrating
- manifesting
- exposing
- communicating
- giving away
- sounding
- declaring
- baring
- disclosing
- unbosoming
- announcing
- advertising
- proclaiming
- trumpeting
- uncovering
- uncloaking
- projecting
- airing
- blazing
- broadcasting
- publicizing
- placarding
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- belying
- misrepresenting
- distorting
- twisting
- falsifying
- disguising
- camouflaging
- concealing
- obscuring
- garbling
- varnishing
- masking
- covering
- whitewashing
- veiling
- hiding
- counterfeiting
- occluding
- gilding
- glossing (over)
3
as in seeking
to make a request for milady bespoke our indulgence, inviting us to wait in the foyer while she attended to other matters Synonyms & Similar Words
- seeking
- requesting
- desiring
- requiring
- importuning
- demanding
- urging
- soliciting
- exacting
- inviting
- questing
- invoking
- requisitioning
- enjoining
- pleading (for)
- suing (for)
- claiming
- speaking (for)
- calling (for)
- asking (for)
- begging (for)
- wishing (for)
- clamoring (for)
- applying (for)
- insisting (on)
- pressing (for)
- petitioning (for)
4
as in indicating
to serve as a sign or symptom of her impressive virtuosity as a pianist bespeaks years of diligent practice Synonyms & Similar Words
- indicating
- betokening
- meaning
- signifying
- denoting
- boding
- presaging
- foretelling
- pointing (to)
- telling (of)
- foreshowing