bespoke
bi-ˈspōk
bē-
; bespoken
bi-ˈspō-kən
bē-
; bespeaking
1
: to hire, engage, or claim beforehand
2
: to speak to especially with formality : address
3
: request
bespeak a favor
variants
or less commonly bespoken
bi-ˈspō-kən
bē-
1
a
: custom-made
a bespoke suit
b
: dealing in or producing custom-made articles
a bespoke tailor
2
dialect
: engaged
bespoke
3 of 3past tense of bespeak
Did you know?
In the English language of yore, the verb bespeak had various meanings, including “to speak,” “to accuse,” and “to complain.” In the 16th century, bespeak acquired another meaning: “to order.” It is from that sense that we get the adjective bespoke, referring to clothes and other things that are ordered before they are made. Bespoke has enjoyed a spike in usage in recent years, perhaps due to consumer trends that champion all things artisanal over those that are prefab.
Cite this Entry
“Bespeak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bespeak. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
