be spoken for
idiom
: to not be available because of already being claimed by someone else or in a relationship with someone else
I'm sorry. This seat is spoken for.
I can't go out with you; I'm already spoken for.
Examples of be spoken for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But as The Daily Show reported in a segment this week, one underserved potential voting block may be spoken for after Insane Clown Posse‘s frontman Violent J seemingly endorsed the VP while being interviewed for a parody segment.
—
Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2024
The Sharks will only keep 13 or 14 forwards out of camp, and at least 11 spots appear to be spoken for.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 5 July 2024
And some of the $26.3 million budgeted for the upcoming fiscal year might already be spoken for, as applicants with valid eligibility notices who are locked out this year will be considered when more funds are available — no earlier than Oct. 1.
—Michael Brice-Saddler, Washington Post, 1 July 2023
But while all those titles may be spoken for, Venice’s unofficial market will offer a handful of films, both art house and genre titles, that are still up for grabs, with enough hooks and star power to pull in international and domestic buyers.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2022
The boss knows that Shara’s summer might already be spoken for, what with the need to fill her extracurricular C.V. for a possible Ivy League future.
—Han Ong, The New Yorker, 18 July 2022
That means that potential corporate sponsors and season-ticket holders in a smaller market could already be spoken for before the A’s could get there.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2022
Five teams have already clinched playoff spots in the NFC, and the remaining two berths could be spoken for by the time Sunday's action wraps up.
—Usa Today Sports, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2022
There exist two seats to be formally announced at Dale Coyne Racing, though those are believed to be spoken for (Takuma Sato and David Malukas).
—Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Nov. 2021
Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2024
The Sharks will only keep 13 or 14 forwards out of camp, and at least 11 spots appear to be spoken for.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 5 July 2024
And some of the $26.3 million budgeted for the upcoming fiscal year might already be spoken for, as applicants with valid eligibility notices who are locked out this year will be considered when more funds are available — no earlier than Oct. 1.
—Michael Brice-Saddler, Washington Post, 1 July 2023
But while all those titles may be spoken for, Venice’s unofficial market will offer a handful of films, both art house and genre titles, that are still up for grabs, with enough hooks and star power to pull in international and domestic buyers.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Aug. 2022
The boss knows that Shara’s summer might already be spoken for, what with the need to fill her extracurricular C.V. for a possible Ivy League future.
—Han Ong, The New Yorker, 18 July 2022
That means that potential corporate sponsors and season-ticket holders in a smaller market could already be spoken for before the A’s could get there.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2022
Five teams have already clinched playoff spots in the NFC, and the remaining two berths could be spoken for by the time Sunday's action wraps up.
—Usa Today Sports, USA TODAY, 3 Jan. 2022
There exist two seats to be formally announced at Dale Coyne Racing, though those are believed to be spoken for (Takuma Sato and David Malukas).
—Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Nov. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'be spoken for.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near be spoken for
Cite this Entry
“Be spoken for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/be%20spoken%20for. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share