If you speak out against something or in favour of something, you say publicly that you think it is bad or good. As tempers rose, he spoke out strongly against some of the radical ideas for selling off state-owned property Even then, she continued to speak out at rallies around the country
[ 'spEk ] (verb.) before 12th century. Middle English speken, from Old English sprecan, specan; akin to Old High German sprehhan to speak, Greek spharageisthai to crackle.