eloquent

adjective

el·​o·​quent ˈe-lə-kwənt How to pronounce eloquent (audio)
1
: marked by forceful and fluent expression
an eloquent preacher
2
: vividly or movingly expressive or revealing
an eloquent monument
eloquently adverb

Did you know?

Since eloquent has to do with speaking, it makes sense that it comes from the Latin verb loquī, which means "to talk or speak." (The adjective loquacious describes a person who is skilled at or has the inclination for talking.) Expression of the self can be seen and not heard, which gives meaning to eloquent as an adjective for nonverbal impressive acts.

Examples of eloquent in a Sentence

He [H. L. Mencken] relished the vagaries of vernacular speech and paid eloquent homage to them in The American Language. Jackson Lears, New Republic, 27 Jan. 2003
Samuel Johnson is palmed off in classrooms as a harmless drudge of a lexicographer, yet open the Dictionary anywhere and find precision and eloquent plainness. Guy Davenport, The Geography of the Imagination, (1954) 1981
There was a burst of applause, and a deep silence which was even more eloquent than the applause. Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge, 1886
His success serves as an eloquent reminder of the value of hard work. an eloquent writer and speaker, Elizabeth Cady Stanton was one of the founders of the women's rights movement
Recent Examples on the Web Mencken, the most eloquent of the reactionaries, put their cantankerous thoughts into ornate, often quite funny prose. Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2024 Gordon acts with his entire body (his heavy, syncopated gait is a kind of dance) but, especially, with his hands, which are as eloquent as his (or anyone else’s) voice. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2024 Anyway, the number of one-third requests to our company for project rescue services is quite eloquent. Ilia Kiselevich, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Coming out can be incredibly scary, and Steele is eloquent and open about her fears. Peter Debruge, Variety, 23 Jan. 2024 Allison Williams was eloquent, Lily-Rose Depp was … a bit taciturn, and Ben Platt ended an interview over it. Vulture, 12 Jan. 2024 Tirico, 56, is a suave and eloquent announcer who typically steers clear of clichés and bombast. Jody Rosen, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2023 The most eloquent of these has come from Ben Lovejoy at 9to5Mac. David Phelan, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 Language is one thing; Chowdhury’s ability to create an eloquent narrative out of glances and tensions is another. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eloquent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin ēloquent-, ēloquens "capable of speech, expressing oneself fluently," from present participle of ēloquī "to utter, put into words," from ē- e- entry 1 + loquī "to talk, speak," probably going back to dialectal Indo-European *tlokw- "talk," whence also Old Irish ad-tluichethar "(s/he) gives thanks" (originally with buide "thanks" as object, as in atluchedar buidi do Día "he thanks God"), do-tluichethar "(s/he) desires, beseeches, asks," Old Church Slavic tlŭk "interpreter" (from *tl̥kw-o-)

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of eloquent was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near eloquent

Cite this Entry

“Eloquent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eloquent. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

eloquent

adjective
el·​o·​quent ˈel-ə-kwənt How to pronounce eloquent (audio)
1
: having or showing clear and forceful expression
an eloquent speaker
an eloquent essay
2
: clearly showing some feeling or meaning
an eloquent look
eloquently adverb

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