plural reverbs
1
: an electronically produced echo effect in live and recorded music
The new record is shrouded in damp clouds of reverb, with faint impressions of its jangling guitars sneaking through like the sun behind an overcast sky.—
Jude Noel
Jude Noel[Lykke] Li's vocals are soaked in reverb, guitars and drums echoing in the background, turning the song into a dark, emotional plea from a heartbroken lover.—Shaina Pearlman
Shaina PearlmanThe audience will hear the orchestra acoustically and the effects pedals through the amplification system. Those effects will include vibrato, distortions, pitch and timbral modulations, echoes and reverbs.—Kerry Clawson
Kerry Clawsona reverb effect/sound
2
: something (such as a device, a feature, or a software application) for producing reverb
Thankfully, Vox added a built-in reverb into the amp …—Alexander Briones
—usually used before another nounAlexander Brionesanalog/digital reverb units
adjusted the reverb settings
When you buy a reverb pedal, there's almost always a knob that lets you select the type of reverb that you want.—Michael Pierce and Giulio Chiarenza
Michael Pierce and Giulio ChiarenzaExamples of reverb in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Oslo musician’s debut album is a darkly glamorous blur of trip-hop and dance pop, with copious reverb and Auto-Tune as stand-ins for yearning, uneasiness, and irresolution.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
Fischer especially recommends making sound-softening updates in rooms with higher ceilings, open layouts, and hardwood flooring, all of which can amplify echo and reverb.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
Using a speaker outside the stall results in reverb and echoing as the music bounces around the bathroom walls, making the sound muddy and unpleasant.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Jittery drum programming and shrouding reverb screams Minneapolis in the ‘80s, but the wonky thump and the multiplicity of vocal tracks are just as suggestive of D’Angelo or the raw pain of a Frank Ocean.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
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Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 22 Jan. 2026
Fischer especially recommends making sound-softening updates in rooms with higher ceilings, open layouts, and hardwood flooring, all of which can amplify echo and reverb.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Jan. 2026
Using a speaker outside the stall results in reverb and echoing as the music bounces around the bathroom walls, making the sound muddy and unpleasant.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Jittery drum programming and shrouding reverb screams Minneapolis in the ‘80s, but the wonky thump and the multiplicity of vocal tracks are just as suggestive of D’Angelo or the raw pain of a Frank Ocean.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reverb
Cite this Entry
“Reverb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reverb. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.
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