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to sound

to sound

935 1.0
To make a noise that others can hear
  • verb
  • /saʊnd/
translation icon : sonar
  • The music sounds better when played at a higher volume.
  • sound the alarm
  • sound out a word
  • a voice sounded

And I think that we sounded an alarm back then.

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Examples

  • OK, so let's hear what this sounds like now.

  • I've never heard someone sound so good or so clear.

  • Yeah, and also it sounds, it sounds nice as well.

  • Now all this may sound like a lot of planning.

  • I guess they all kind of sound a little wrong.

  • This is going to sound, well, I'll just say it.

  • You realize how insane you sound, right?

  • And some people might think, oh, God, that sounds terribly humbling.

  • I mean, we've never had a choir director to get these kids to sound so fantastic.

  • You guys sound great.

Synonyms

to ring
vsto sound
430 1.0

To make a clear sound like a bell that can be heard far away

is the general act of causing noise rather than this ringing quality
to roll
vsto sound
270 2.5

To make a long deep sound like thunder or drums

is the general act of causing noise rather than this long low vibration
to rumble
vsto sound
  • Literature
84 2.5

To make a low, deep, continuous sound

is the general act of causing noise rather than this ongoing low tone
to chime
vsto sound
61 3.0

To make a clear ringing sound like a bell

is the general act of causing noise rather than this tonal melody
to hum
vsto sound
49 1.0

Make a low steady sound like a machine

is the general act of causing noise rather than this constant droning
to buzz
vsto sound
42 1.1

To make a low steady sound like a bee

is the general act of causing noise rather than this vibrating hum
to make noise
vsto sound
42 1.3

To make a sound that is loud or easy to hear

is the general act of causing noise rather than one specific quality
to echo
vsto sound
35 1.4

To return as a sound after bouncing off a surface like a wall or cliff

is the general act of causing noise rather than this reflected repetition
to boom
vsto sound
33 3.4

To make a deep loud sound like thunder or a cannon

is the general act of causing noise rather than this explosive loudness
to resonate
vsto sound
26 5.1

To make a deep, full sound that echoes in a place

is the general act of causing noise rather than this resonant depth
to thunder
vsto sound
21 3.2

To make a loud, strong sound to show anger or give orders

is the general act of causing noise rather than this intense power
to jingle
vsto sound
18 2.8

To make a light ringing sound by moving small metal objects

is the general act of causing noise rather than this small metallic tone
to resound
vsto sound
11 5.3

To fill a room with a loud sound that echoes

is the general act of causing noise rather than this echoing effect

Antonyms

169 3.5

To stop someone from speaking or making noise

64 5.8

To make a sound or feeling quieter so it is less noticeable

Idioms

safe and sound
  • Informal
56 1.5

Not hurt and not in danger

19 3.2

Resting very deeply and not waking easily

of sound mind
  • Formal
9 6.5

Able to think clearly and make decisions

To keep saying the same complaint again and again until people get annoyed

to sound fishy
  • Informal
1 7.0

To seem not honest or real

To enjoy hearing yourself talk because you feel important

In very good working condition and reliable

Cannot hear something because a louder noise is present

To enjoy hearing yourself speak while not listening to others

To warn people about a possible danger or serious problem

Talk in a way that shows old, unfair ideas about women

Phrasal Verbs

To seem correct or acceptable

to sound off
  • Informal
9 7.0

To say your opinion or complain loudly and openly

2 4.4

Try to find out what someone thinks by asking indirect questions

1 5.5

To begin to play music or make a sound to mark a start

1 2.8

Say the letters and syllables of a word to help you read and spell it

Compounds

sound bite
  • Literature
53 4.0

A short part of a recorded statement on radio or television, often by a politician

30 3.5

A set of electronic devices that records, makes louder, or plays sound

27 3.1

A recorded sound added to films or plays to copy real noises

sound wave
  • Specialized
20 3.5

A pattern of vibrations that moves through air, water, or solids and carries sound

A saved copy of voices, music, or other noises you can play back

sound barrier
  • Specialized
6 5.7

The point near the speed of sound when a plane feels a sudden push and strong vibration

The ability to make sensible, careful decisions

3 4.0

A large bay of the Pacific Ocean in northwest Washington State with many connected waterways and islands

A stretch of water between Long Island and Connecticut on the US Atlantic coast

1 2.5

A sound made with the mouth open that forms the main part of a syllable

1 6.8

A truck with big speakers that drives around to play announcements or ads

A person who controls sound equipment for TV, radio, or live shows

1 3.9

A way of thinking or arguing that uses good reasons and evidence to show something is true

sound reproduction
  • Specialized
1 4.6

To play recorded sound so it sounds like the original

1 3.6

A movie that has recorded sound and spoken dialogue

sound hole
  • Specialized
1 4.9

An opening in the top of an instrument with strings, like a guitar, that makes its sound louder

foley sound
  • Specialized
7.2

Recorded noise made to match actions seen on screen

3.8

An audio system that plays sound very clearly with little distortion

The pressure of sound at one moment at a point

kerching sound
  • Informal
9.9

A sound like coins clinking when someone gets money

A long bay of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of British Columbia, Canada

9.9

A silly bouncing sound that toys or cartoons make when they move

sound unit
  • Specialized
4.2

A unit that measures how loud a sound is, like the decibel

sound spectrograph
  • Specialized
9.1

A machine that shows different pitches in a sound as a picture

sound spectrum
  • Specialized
6.7

The loudness of the high and low parts of a sound, for example a violin or flute

sound structure
  • Specialized
7.0

The way small spoken parts are arranged to make words

sound bow
  • Specialized
9.9

Thick part of a bell that the metal piece inside hits to make it ring

sound alphabet
  • Specialized
8.2

A set of letters that show speech sounds like the International Phonetic Alphabet

sound camera
  • Specialized
5.6

A movie camera that records sound together with the picture

sound camera
  • Specialized
8.0

A device that makes pictures showing where sounds come from and how loud they are

sound law
  • Specialized
9.8

A regular rule that explains how sounds in a language change over time

sound doubler
  • Specialized
8.2

A device that makes voices or music sound fuller by copying the original sound

sound pressure level
  • Specialized
5.1

A measure of how loud a sound is in decibels

sound projection
  • Specialized
6.4

How far and how clearly people hear a sound in a place

sound ranging
  • Specialized
9.5

A method of finding where a sound comes from by measuring how long it takes to reach microphones

sound reflection
  • Specialized
3.8

A bounce of sound you hear again after it hits a surface

sound perception
  • Specialized
5.6

The ability to hear and understand sounds around you

Loud unwanted noise that disturbs people and can harm health

sound pressure
  • Specialized
5.1

Extra pressure in the air caused by a sound wave that we can measure

speech sound
  • Specialized
4.5

A single sound that people make when they talk

A soft wet noise something makes when you press or step on it

voiced sound
  • Specialized
4.1

A speech sound made when the vocal cords in your throat move quickly

How Loud

to bellow
39 4.7
to shout
644 1.0
to sound
935 1.0
to murmur
11 4.2
to whisper
586 1.0

Surface Forms

sound infinitive
sounded past
sounded past participle
sounding present participle
sounds third person singular

Etymology

Sound (verb, 'to make a noise') comes from the noun sound (a noise), so to sound is simply to produce that noise.