sound

1 of 2

verb (1)

sounded; sounding; sounds

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to make a sound

sound a trumpet

Be brave. … Sound your voice.

—Erin Grace

b

: pronounce sense 3a

They won't get one until they ask for it in Chinese. They try sounding the syllables …

—Indiana Daily Student

2

: to put into words : voice

sounded concerns about the plan

3

a

: to make known : proclaim

b

: to order, signal, or indicate by a sound

sound the alarm

4

: to examine by causing to emit sounds

sound the lungs

5

chiefly British : to convey the impression of : sound like

That sounds a logical use of resources.

—Economist

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make a sound

The buzzer sounded.

b

: resound

… named it Echo Place because of the unusual echoes that sounded through the woods …

—Ruth Lefler

c

: to give a summons by sound

The bugle sounds to battle.

2

: to make or convey an impression especially when heard

It sounds good to me.

you sound just like your mother

soundable

ˈsau̇n-də-bəl 

adjective

sound

2 of 2

verb (2)

sounded; sounding; sounds

transitive verb

1

: to measure the depth of : fathom

2

: to try to find out the views or intentions of : probe

—often used with out

3

: to explore or examine (a body cavity) with a sound

intransitive verb

1

a

: to ascertain the depth of water especially with a sounding line

b

: to look into or investigate the possibility

… sent commissioners … to sound for peace.

—Thomas Jefferson

2

: to dive down suddenly

—used of a fish or whale

Did you know?

English contains several sound homographs, all with distinct histories. For example, the sound that means "something heard" descends from Latin sonus ("sound"), whereas the sound that means "to measure the depth of water" traces to Middle French sonde ("sounding line"). Another sound, as in "of sound mind and body," is the contemporary form of Old English's gesund. Gesund is related to several words in other languages, such as Old Saxon gisund ("sound"), Old Frisian sund ("fresh, unharmed, healthy"), and Gothic swinths ("sound" or "healthy"). Another relative is Old High German's gisunt ("healthy"), which led to modern German's gesund, the root of gesundheit.

Synonyms of sound

Verb (1)

• echo

Verb (2)

• scale
• plumb
• fathom

Examples of sound in a Sentence

Verb (1)

the stranded hiker's cries for help sounded throughout the canyon

the idea at least sounds plausible

a person who certainly isn't shy about sounding her opinions

the grand opening of the region's newest and largest mall has been loudly sounded for months

Verb (2)

the pilot sounded the river to make sure we weren't in any danger of running aground

a whale suddenly surfaced and then, just as suddenly, sounded

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Players such as Spurs guard De'Aaron Fox and Knicks forward OG Anunoby don't sound nearly as excited. —Alejandro Avila, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026

That sounded familiar to the Kings, who have lost in Round 1 in five straight postseasons and haven’t advanced in the playoffs since their 2014 Stanley Cup triumph. —Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 8 June 2026

Every choice made for their evolving Newton is discussed with the Apple team, which approves designs for how apps and sounds change season to season. —Hunter Ingram, Variety, 8 June 2026

Users can now customize how Siri sounds through new pacing and expressiveness controls, while also interacting with the assistant through voice or text. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (2)

Middle English, from Middle French sonder, from Old French *sonde sounding line, probably from Old English or Middle English sund- (as in Old English sundlīne sounding line) from sund sea

First Known Use

Verb (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing sound

• (as) sound as a bell
• break the sound barrier
• not like the sound of (something)
• of sound mind
• raise/sound the alarm
• sound and fury
• sound-and-light show
• sound bar
• sound barrier
• sound-bite
• sound board
• sound bow
• sound box
• sound card
• sound check
• sound effects
• sound hole
• sound like
• sound off
• sound out
• sound pressure
• sound/ring/toll the death knell
• sound/signal the retreat
• sound sleeper
• sound system
• sound track
• sound truck
• sound wave
• surround sound
• the sound barrier

Rhymes for sound

• bound
• browned
• crowned
• downed
• drowned
• found
• frowned
• gowned
• ground
• hound
• mound
• round

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Kids Definition

sound

1 of 6 adjective

ˈsau̇nd 

1

a

: not diseased or weak : healthy

a sound mind in a sound body

b

: free from imperfection or rot

2

: solid entry 1 sense 4, firm

a building of sound construction

3

: not faulty : valid, right

a sound argument

4

a

: thorough sense 1

a sound revenge

b

: not disturbed

a sound sleep

c

: severe sense 3

a sound beating

5

: showing good judgment or sense

sound advice

soundly

ˈsau̇n-(d)lē 

adverb

soundness

ˈsau̇n(d)-nəs 

noun

sound

2 of 6 adverb

: to the full extent : thoroughly

sound asleep

sound

3 of 6 noun

1

a

: the sensation of hearing

b

: a particular impression obtained by hearing : noise, tone

c

: the energy of vibration that causes the sensation of hearing

2

a

: one of the noises that together make up human speech

the sound of "th" in "this"

b

: a series of spoken noises

3

a

: meaningless noise

b

: the suggestion carried or given by something heard or said

the excuse has a suspicious sound

4

: hearing distance : earshot

within sound of my voice

sound

4 of 6 verb

1

a

: to make or cause to make a sound

b

: resound

the auditorium sounded with applause

c

: resound sense 2

cheers are sounding throughout the gymnasium

d

: to give a signal by sound

the bugle sounds to battle

2

: pronounce sense 3a

sound each word clearly

3

: to put into words : voice

4

a

: to make known : proclaim

b

: to order, signal, or indicate by a sound

sound the alarm

5

: to make or give an impression especially when heard

sounds incredible

sound

5 of 6 noun

: a long passage of water that is wider than a strait and often connects two larger bodies of water or forms a channel between the mainland and an island

sound

6 of 6 verb

1

a

: to measure the depth of (as with a sounding line) : fathom

b

: to look into or investigate the possibility

2

: to try to find out the views or intentions of : probe

sounded me out on the idea

3

: to dive down suddenly

a sounding whale

Etymology

Adjective

Old English gesund "free from injury or disease"

Noun

Middle English soun "a sound, something that can be heard," from early French son (same meaning), from Latin sonus "a sound" — related to unison

Noun

Old English sund "a sea, swimming"

Verb

Middle English sounden "to measure the depth of," from early French sonder (same meaning), from sonde "a line used for measuring depths"; probably of Germanic origin

Medical Definition

sound

1 of 4 adjective

ˈsau̇nd 

1

: free from injury or disease : exhibiting normal health

2

: deep and undisturbed

a sound sleep

soundness noun

sound

2 of 4 noun

1

: a particular auditory impression

heart sounds heard by auscultation

2

: the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing

3

: mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves in a material medium (as air) and is the objective cause of hearing

sound

3 of 4 transitive verb

: to explore or examine (a body cavity) with a sound

sound

4 of 4 noun

: an elongated instrument for exploring or examining body cavities

a uterine sound

Legal Definition

sound

1 of 2 adjective

1

a

: free from injury or disease : exhibiting normal health

b

: free from flaw, defect, or decay

a sound design

2

a

: free from error, fallacy, or misapprehension

based on sound judicial reasoning

b

: legally valid

a sound title

3

: showing good judgment or sense

soundly adverb

soundness noun

sound

2 of 2 intransitive verb

: to be based or founded : have a specified basis for an action

—used with in

those remedies for rent which sounded in contract

—O. W. Holmes, Jr.