English Reference

Word

loquacious

Phoneticslo·qua·cious

US/ɫoʊˈkweɪʃəs/

UK/ləkwˈeɪʃəs/

Definition

adj. describing someone who talks a lot. You use this to describe a person who is very chatty or enjoys long conversations.

adj. tending to talk a great deal; extremely talkative. Often used to describe a person's natural disposition or a specific social behaviour.

Examples

“The loquacious host kept the guests entertained all evening.”

“After a few glasses of wine, the usually quiet professor became surprisingly loquacious, sharing stories about his travels.”

“While her predecessor was known for his stoic silence, the new CEO proved to be far more loquacious, frequently engaging in lengthy town hall meetings with the staff.”

Examples

simple

“The loquacious host kept the guests entertained all evening.”

contextual

“After a few glasses of wine, the usually quiet professor became surprisingly loquacious, sharing stories about his travels.”

complex

“While her predecessor was known for his stoic silence, the new CEO proved to be far more loquacious, frequently engaging in lengthy town hall meetings with the staff.”

Usage

Typically used as a predicative adjective after linking verbs like 'become' or 'be', or attributively before a noun.

Real-World Examples

“Now, Mr. Bush presents himself as a loquacious former president, at times combative and at others jovial, as he embarks on a media tour to promote his memoir, 'Decision Points.”
The New York Times · 9 Nov 2010
“Yet Mr. Dolan -- a cable pioneer who is as laconic as Ted Turner, the flamboyant founder of Cable News Network, is loquacious -- has a master plan to fend off these predators.”
The New York Times · 24 Jul 1995
“He is a communicator and a distinctive personality from a bygone era, eloquent and sometimes loquacious, yet highly astute, possessing a deep understanding of history and a touch of humor.”
The New York Times · 23 May 1975
“He can be one of the most loquacious people you’ve ever met, she said.”
The New York Times · 3 May 2021

Etymology

From Latin loquāx, loquācis (“talkative”) + -ous.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Synonyms

talkativechattygarrulousgabbyvolubletalkywordyverbose

Antonyms

reservedquietsilenttaciturnreticentLaconicuncommunicative

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Rare
Updated

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