talkative
gb/tˈɔkɪtɪv/ us/tˈɔkɪtɪv/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
liking to talk a lot
Someone who is talkative talks a lot.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is (very/quite) talkative (with/about [someone/something])
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse talkative (talks a lot) with talkative about (talks a lot about a specific topic).
Synonyms
chatty (More informal; often friendly.)
|
loquacious (More formal and less common.)
|
garrulous (Often suggests talking too much in an annoying way.)
Antonyms
quiet (Not speaking much.)
|
reserved (Not openly talkative, especially with strangers.)
|
taciturn (Very quiet; rarely speaks (more literary/formal).)
Collocations
a talkative person
|a talkative child
|a talkative neighbor
|a talkative customer
|very talkative
|quite talkative
|naturally talkative
|unusually talkative
|talkative and friendly
|not very talkative
Themes
personality
|communication
|social_life
Examples
- She’s usually shy, but she gets very talkative with close friends.
- The new hire is smart and talkative, so meetings move quickly.
- My dog becomes oddly talkative when it’s dinner time.
Learner examples
- My sister is talkative.
- He is not very talkative at work.
adjective
B2
property
2
wordy or too conversational
A talkative style uses too many words and sounds like casual talk.
Usage pattern:
[something] is talkative (in tone/style)
Common mistake:
This meaning describes writing or speech style, not a person’s personality.
Synonyms
wordy (More clearly negative; focuses on unnecessary length.)
|
rambling (Suggests poor organization as well as length.)
|
chatty (Emphasizes an informal, conversational tone.)
Antonyms
concise (Uses few words without losing meaning.)
|
succinct (Brief and clearly expressed (often formal).)
Collocations
a talkative style
|a talkative tone
|a talkative email
|a talkative report
|a slightly talkative introduction
|a less talkative draft
|talkative writing
|a talkative narrator
Themes
writing
|communication
Examples
- The opening paragraph feels a bit talkative—can you tighten it up?
- Her writing is clear but sometimes too talkative for a formal report.
Learner examples
- This email is too talkative.
- Please make the introduction less talkative.
Grammar
Dictionary form
talkative
IPA
GB/tˈɔkɪtɪv/
US/tˈɔkɪtɪv/
Syllables & stress
talk - at - ive (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (talk)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: talkative
Expressions
as talkative as a magpie
1/ˈæz tˈɔkɪtɪv ˈæz ə mˈæɡpˌaɪ/
idiom
informal
very talkative person
talking a lot
Examples
- Once she gets going, she’s as talkative as a magpie.
- He was as talkative as a magpie on the drive home.
- My aunt is as talkative as a magpie at family gatherings.
as talkative as a magpie
1/ˈæz tˈɔkɪtɪv ˈæz ə mˈæɡpˌaɪ/
idiom
informal
extremely talkative
Talking a lot.
Examples
- Put her with friends and she’s as talkative as a magpie.
- He was as talkative as a magpie on the drive home, telling story after story.
talkative to a fault
1/tˈɔkɪtɪv tə ə fˈɔlt/
fixed phrase
so talkative it causes trouble
Talking too much in a way people don’t like.
Examples
- He’s generous and funny, but he can be talkative to a fault.
- I’m talkative to a fault when I’m nervous.
- She’s talkative to a fault, so it’s hard to end a phone call with her.