conversation NOUN informal talk between people

chat NOUN a friendly conversation

gossip

NOUN

conversation about unimportant subjects, especially peoples private lives

chatter NOUN continuous fast informal talk, usually about unimportant subjects
banter NOUN friendly conversation in which people tell jokes and laugh at each other
small talk NOUN informal conversation about things that are not important
chit-chat NOUN INFORMAL friendly conversation about things that are not very important
natter NOUN BRITISHINFORMAL a conversation with a friend about unimportant things
repartee NOUN conversation that is full of clever and funny comments
talk NOUN ordinary conversations between people

discussion
NOUN

a conversation about something, usually something important

debate
NOUN

a discussion in which people or groups state different opinions about a subject

argument
NOUN

a discussion or debate between people with different views, opinions etc

consultation
NOUN

discussion between people or groups before they make a decision

exploration
NOUN

a thorough examination or discussion of a subject, idea etc

talks
NOUN

discussions between important people from opposing sides designed to help them agree a
bout an issue

negotiation
NOUN

formal discussions in which people or groups try to reach an agreement, especially in

a business or political situation

commentary
NOUN

a discussion of something such as an event or theory

inquest
NOUN

a discussion about the reasons for a bad situation

brainstorming
NOUN

a way of developing new ideas, through a discussion in which

several people make lots of suggestions and the best ones are chosen

thesis
NOUN

a long piece of writing that is the final part of an advanced university degree

dissertation
NOUN

a long piece of writing on a particular subject that you do as part of a university degree

essay
NOUN

a short piece of writing on a particular subject that is published in a book, magazine,

or newspaper

monograph
NOUN

a formal piece of writing, or a short book on a particular subject

meditation
NOUN

a piece of writing that expresses serious thoughts on a particular subject

paper
NOUN

a piece of writing or a talk on an academic subject

treatise
NOUN
FORMAL

a serious book or piece of writing about a particular subject

discussion
NOUN

a piece of writing about an important or serious subject

critique
NOUN

a careful written examination of a subject that includes the writers opinions

text
NOUN

a piece of writing such as a book or play that you study for an examination or for research

speech
NOUN

a formal occasion when someone speaks to an audience

speech
NOUN

the words that someone speaks to an audience

talk
NOUN

an informal lecture about a subject

address
NOUN

a formal speech given by someone to a group of people, especially as part of

an important occasion

monologue
NOUN

a speech made by someone who talks for a long time and does not let anyone
else say anything

public speaking
NOUN

the activity of speaking formally to large groups of people

maiden speech
NOUN

the first speech that a politician makes in Parliament after being elected for the first time

screed
NOUN

a long boring speech or piece of writing

the Pledge of Allegiance

a short speech that US citizens recite (=learn and say), in which they formally promise to
be loyal to their country. Children say this every morning in most US schools.

vote of thanks
NOUN

a formal public speech that thanks someone for something that they have done

Did you know?

Click any word in a definition or example to find the entry for that word

To have a conversation with someone - synonyms or

related words

Using the thesaurus

talk
VERB

to have a conversation with other people

chat
VERB

to talk in a friendly way

catch up

to talk to someone you have not seen for some time and find out what they have
been doing

converse
VERB

FORMAL

to have a conversation

fall into conversation

to start having a conversation with someone, especially someone you have just met

get into conversation (with someone)

to start talking to someone you have never met before

pass the time of day (with someone)

to talk to someone for a short time, especially in order to be polite or friendly

engage someone in conversation

to start having a conversation with someone

rap

VERB

INFORMAL OLD-FASHIONED

to have a long informal conversation with friends

make conversation

to talk to someone that you do not know well, in order to be polite, not because you really
want to talk to them. This type of conversation is also called small talk

address
VERB

to speak publicly to a group of people

chair
VERB

to be the person in charge of a meeting, committee, or company

commemorate
VERB

to show that you remember an important person or event by having a special ceremony, or
by creating a special object

dedicate to

to say at an official ceremony that a new building will have a special connection with
a particular person as a sign of admirationor respect for them

deliver
VERB

FORMAL

to give a formal talk to a group of people

give
VERB

used about a speech, talk etc

inaugurate
VERB

to open a new building, or to start a new organization, with an official ceremony

lecture
VERB

to give a lecture or a series of lectures

orate
VERB

FORMAL

to make a speech, especially a very formal or long speech which shows that

you think you are very important

parade
VERB

if soldiers parade, they march as a group during a ceremony or public celebration, or

they stand in rows to be looked at by important people

preside
VERB

to be in charge of an official meeting, ceremony, or other event

review
VERB

if an important person reviews a group of soldiers, sailors etc, they officially visit them
during a ceremony

speak
VERB

to give a formal speech

talk
VERB

to give a lecture on a subject

unveil
VERB

to remove the cover from something such as a statue as part of an official ceremony

be upstanding

FORMAL

used as a way of asking people to stand up during an official ceremony or in

a court of law

do the honours

to be the person at a special event or social occasion who is in charge or

who performs any ceremonies

I give you someone

used in a formal speech for introducing someone or for asking people to show their
approval by applauding (=hitting their hands together)