What does ‘actions speak louder than words’ mean?
To “actions speak louder than words” means to behaviour reveals intent more truly than speech does. The proverb is recorded in English by the 17th century in various forms; Brewer's includes it in the classic proverb stock.
Origin
- The proverb is recorded in English by the 17th century in various forms; Brewer's includes it in the classic proverb stock.
How to use it
- Common rebuke of empty promises.
- Example: Never mind the apology — actions speak louder than words.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.