held forth
Delivered extended remarks
Held forth is the past tense of hold forth, meaning to speak at length, often in a pompous or self-important manner.
Someone who held forth dominated a conversation with extended commentary: He held forth on politics for an hour while everyone else sat politely.
The phrase suggests the speaker enjoys their own voice more than the audience does.
- oratedGave a formal address
- expoundedExplained at length
- assertedStated as fact
- discoursedSpoke formally, extensively
- lecturedSpoke formally to instruct
proclaimed · pontificated · elaborated · sermonized · speechified · argued · declared · sounded off · monologued · went on · articulated · harangued · proposed · presented · perorate · persuaded · expatiated · provoked
held forthkept quiet
said nothing · clammed up · shut up · fell silent · bit one's tongue
held forthlistened
Perceived sound intentionally
paid attention · lent an ear · took in · absorbed · received
held forthconversed
Spoke with another
dialogued · got to the point · discussed · bantered · summarized
hold, held, holder, holding, uphold, forthcoming, withhold, holds, forth