deliver a speech

Meaning

This collocation means to give a formal talk, address, or presentation to an audience. It is typically used in formal contexts, such as conferences, award ceremonies, or corporate events. It emphasizes the performance and presentation aspect of speaking publicly.

Examples

• The CEO will deliver a speech at the annual shareholders' meeting.

  The CEO will deliver a speech at the annual shareholders' meeting.

• She was nervous about having to deliver a speech in front of five hundred people.

  She was nervous about having to deliver a speech in front of five hundred people.

• He spent weeks preparing to deliver a speech on sustainable business practices.

  He spent weeks preparing to deliver a speech on sustainable business practices.

• To deliver a speech effectively, you should maintain eye contact with the audience.

  To deliver a speech effectively, you should maintain eye contact with the audience.

• The guest speaker delivered a speech that inspired everyone in the room.

  The guest speaker delivered a speech that inspired everyone in the room.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The director made a great speech at the conference.

  ✓ The director delivered a great speech at the conference.

  While "made a speech" is grammatically correct, "deliver a speech" is the preferred, more professional, and formal collocation in business.

• ✗ He delivered a speech to the project update yesterday.

  ✓ He gave a presentation on the project update yesterday.

  "Deliver a speech" is reserved for formal addresses to an audience, not for casual or routine project status updates in a team meeting.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The keynote speaker is scheduled to ___ on the future of AI.

  💡 Give a formal talk to the audience.

  Show answer

  deliver a speech

• She was invited to ___ at her former university's graduation ceremony.

  💡 Address a formal gathering.

  Show answer

  deliver a speech