proverb🎓 English idiom
actions speak louder than words
what you do matters more than what you say
What it means
What a person actually does reveals their true intentions far more clearly than what they merely say. It's used to stress that promises and talk mean little without matching behaviour.
Words like “actions speak louder than words” are exactly the kind of vocabulary our English vocabulary size test measures — find out how many English words you know.
Examples
- He keeps promising to help, but actions speak louder than words.
- Don't just apologise — actions speak louder than words, so change.
- She proved her loyalty by showing up; actions speak louder than words.
- Politicians make grand speeches, but actions speak louder than words.
Where it comes from
A proverb expressed in various forms since the 17th century, with the modern wording becoming standard in 19th-century English and American usage.
Related idioms
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