volume

1 of 3

noun

vol·​ume ˈväl-(ˌ)yüm  -yəm 

1

: the degree of loudness or the intensity of a sound

also : loudness

2

: the amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional object as measured in cubic units (such as quarts or liters) : cubic capacity see Metric System Table, Weights and Measures Table

3

a(1)

: amount

also : bulk, mass

(2)

: a considerable quantity

b

: the amount of a substance occupying a particular volume

c

: mass or the representation of mass in art or architecture

4

a

: a series of printed sheets bound typically in book form : book

b

: a series of issues of a periodical

c

: album sense 1b

5

: scroll sense 1a

volumed

ˈväl-(ˌ)yümd 

-yəmd

adjective

volume

2 of 3

verb

volumed; voluming

transitive verb

: to send or give out in volume

intransitive verb

: to roll or rise in volume

volume

3 of 3

adjective

: involving large quantities

volume sales

Synonyms

Noun

• abundance
• barrel
• basketful
• boatload
• bucket
• bunch
• bundle
• bushel
• carload
• chunk
• deal
• dozen
• fistful
• gobs
• good deal
• heap
• hundred
• lashings [chiefly British]
• lashins
• loads
• lot
• mass
• mess
• mountain
• much
• multiplicity
• myriad
• oodles
• pack
• passel
• peck
• pile
• plateful
• plenitude
• plentitude
• plenty
• pot
• potful
• profusion
• quantity
• raft
• reams
• scads
• sheaf
• shipload
• sight
• slew
• spate
• stack
• store
• ton
• truckload
• wad
• wealth
• yard

Choose the Right Synonym for volume

bulk, mass, volume mean the aggregate that forms a body or unit.

bulk implies an aggregate that is impressively large, heavy, or numerous.

the darkened bulk of the skyscrapers

mass suggests an aggregate made by piling together things of the same kind.

a mass of boulders

volume applies to an aggregate without shape or outline and capable of flowing or fluctuating.

a tremendous volume of water

Examples of volume in a Sentence

Noun

The volume is too loud.

Can you turn the volume up?

playing music at full volume

She fiddled with the volume on the stereo.

a high volume of sales

Huge volumes of park visitors come through every weekend.

an increase in traffic volume

The box has a volume of three cubic meters.

We measure the items by weight, not by volume.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

More people are embracing volume, soft waves, and full bangs, and her signature blonde has become a major reference. —Catherine Santino, People.com, 23 Apr. 2025

The limited-edition dry shampoo is still the fan favorite formula, with superfruit sea buckthorn and rice starch to refresh the scalp and strands while adding body and volume. —Celia Shatzman, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025

Their direct attacks and shot volume from set pieces have decreased compared with Cushing’s version in 2024, leading to a 1.2 shot-per-game decrease year-over-year. —Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025

Shippers and port operators have been warning of dropping import volumes for some weeks. —Tobias Burns, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin volumen roll, scroll, from volvere to roll — more at wallow entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Verb

1815, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Adjective

circa 1945, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing volume

• alcohol by volume

Rhymes for volume

• multivolume

Kids Definition

volume

noun

vol·​ume

ˈväl-yəm,

-yüm

1

: book entry 1 sense 2a

2

: one of a series of books forming a complete work or collection

the fifth volume of an encyclopedia

3

: an amount of space as measured in cubic units

the volume of a container

4

: a large amount : mass

volumes of smoke

a volume of criticism poured in

5

: the degree of loudness of a sound

turn up the volume

Etymology

Noun

Middle English volume "a book, a scroll of papyrus," from early French (same meaning), from Latin volumen "roll, scroll," from volvere "to roll" — related to revolve

Word Origin

The earliest books were written on long rolls made from a plant called papyrus. The Roman name for such a roll was volumen, a word which came from the verb volvere, meaning "to roll." Later, books were made of a material called parchment, which, unlike papyrus, could be folded and bound together. This advance made it unnecessary to use rolls anymore. The French word volume, which came from the Latin volumen, was originally used to refer to papyrus rolls but later was used for bound books as well. The French word was borrowed into English in the 14th century. By the 16th century, volume had also come to mean "the size (of a book)." This meaning led to a more general sense, "the quantity or amount (of anything)." In the 19th century, volume acquired still another meaning, "the strength or loudness of a sound."

Medical Definition

volume

noun

vol·​ume ˈväl-yəm, -(ˌ)yüm 

1

: the amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional figure as measured in cubic units (as inches, quarts, or centimeters) : cubic capacity

2

: the amount of a substance occupying a particular volume