talking 1 of 3

adjective

as in speaking

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talking

2 of 3

noun

as in communication

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talking

3 of 3

verb

present participle of talk
1
as in lecturing
to give a formal often extended talk on a subject the fire chief often talks at school assemblies about fire safety

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2
as in chatting
to engage in casual or rambling conversation talked with our neighbor as we unloaded the groceries from the car

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3
as in saying
to express (a thought or emotion) in words you're talking nonsense: take a minute and think about what you are trying to say, and then start speaking

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4
as in informing
to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities after being threatened, the eyewitness started talking at length about what he had seen in the alley

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5
as in gossiping
to relate sometimes questionable or secret information of a personal nature you're a fine one to talk about your sister's marital problems when you have had plenty of your own

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of talking
Noun
The contest centered on transgender rights, with Markey repeatedly blasting Moulton’s earlier remarks about trans girls in sports as echoing conservative talking points and out of step with Democratic voters. — Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Her Olympic routine soon became a global talking point, especially for its unconventional movements and distinctive style, including kangaroo hopping and the sprinkler. — Nasha Smith, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026 Neon later acquired worldwide rights, pulling the film back into this year’s awards conversation after its absence from Venice had become one of the summer’s biggest industry talking points. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026 Turkish clubs have provided some of the biggest talking points in the window — Mohamed Salah’s move to Trabzonspor and Galatasaray’s interest in Bruno Fernandes, for example. — Leon Imber, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026 But doubling down on defensive moderate talking points and ignoring a disillusioned working class are no longer winnable strategies. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 That was fine, the stance seemed to say, those strangers and their talking. — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026 In effect, the Federal Reserve’s own survey data is a quiet admission that private equity’s exit backlog and private credit’s maturity concentration have moved from an industry talking point to a supervisory concern. — Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 With much of the country's economy geared toward its lucrative and well-managed fishing industry, fishing rights have been a talking point in the run-up to the referendum. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
When families of the Lincoln’s sailors started talking with reporters, their complaints were met with contempt from the top. — Andrea N. Goldstein, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026 Taken with each other, Celine agrees to continue talking with Jesse in Vienna before his morning flight. — David Faris, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026 And if his experience studying glacial lakes in Nepal is any indication, this will include talking to locals who really understand the environment. — Aakash Hassan, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026 Parton said later that people had warned her against talking to Walters, who'd chew her up and spit her out. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 Amid a mayoral election, Bass shifted the blame to Raman before visiting the community and talking to neighbors. — Joy Benedict, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 Maybe a family watches a favorite performer together, while nearby strangers start talking because someone forgot sunscreen and their friend packed enough for six people. — Svetlana Khachiyan, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 Season 20 of the hit reality dating series introduced seven couples who agreed to marry each other without seeing, talking or knowing anything about each other. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026 Love was an early adopter, and Auf der Maur captures her talking on a cellphone the size of a walkie-talkie, and also keeping a tour diary on a Macintosh Powerbook. — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for talking
  1. speaking
  2. lecturing
  3. chatting
  4. saying
  5. informing
  6. gossiping
  7. communicative
  8. conversing
Adjective
  • Parents and caregivers of intellectually disabled or non-speaking autistic people sometimes argue that neurodivergent self-advocates with low support needs can’t speak for those with disabilities that affect their daily lives in more profound ways.
    — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Eun-sae, who has heard Tae-ha speaking Korean, speeds up on her motorbike to whisk Tae-ha away from danger.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of speaking
Verb
  • Approaching hesitant individuals Health experts said that addressing vaccine-hesitant people starts with listening rather than lecturing.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Today, young people are increasingly frustrated with the hypocrisy of politicians lecturing them about the virtues of voting while in practice facilitating disengagement.
    — David Neil, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of lecturing
Verb
  • In the video, the popular streamers Maya Higa and FaZe Adapt sit together on a log, chatting nonchalantly as a massive grizzly bear lumbers toward them.
    — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Google’s video showcasing this option sees the user using Chrome on a phone, where chatting with a chatbot might be easier.
    — Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of chatting
Verb
  • On Monday, those five writers — also DSA-LA members — panned the idea of an endorsement, saying Raman hasn’t earned it.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The display was set up by police, with authorities saying some of the bodies recovered from the floods were in an advanced state of decomposition, making physical identification difficult.
    — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of saying
Verb
  • The brand’s alignment with quiet luxury is also informing how Gieves & Hawkes expands into new categories.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Any business, town or development group needs this data informing their decisions.
    — Twila Moon, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of informing
Verb
  • Hollywood is gossiping that her current paramour Scooter Braun looks like her past fiancé — Jonathan Davino.
    — Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • The last time the men did a show together was July 26, gossiping about everyone from Ariana Grande to Giulana Rancic.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of gossiping
Adjective
  • Now, from membership in the Nazi Party to the facts behind family lineage or legends, communicative memory no longer has the final word.
    — Fern Schumer Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Steering is accurate without being particularly communicative, but that's perfectly appropriate for this car.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 July 2026
Definition of communicative
Verb
  • But there’s something else Sirianni realized in conversing with the chatbot.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Residents can still bask in the sunshine over dinner but feel secluded when conversing with one another.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2026
Definition of conversing

Phrases Containing talking

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talkiness
talking
talking a blue streak
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Cite this Entry

“Talking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/talking. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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