sounding 1 of 3

Definition of soundingnext

sounding

2 of 3

verb (1)

present participle of sound
1
as in echoing
to continue or be repeated in a series of reflected sound waves the stranded hiker's cries for help sounded throughout the canyon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4

sounding

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of sound
1
as in plumbing
to measure the depth of (as a body of water) typically with a weighted line the pilot sounded the river to make sure we weren't in any danger of running aground

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in plunging
to cast oneself head first into deep water a whale suddenly surfaced and then, just as suddenly, sounded

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sounding
Noun
This apparent recloning limit could put a dent in a number of sci-fi sounding but already burgeoning ambitions. Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026 An external sounding board can be an invaluable source of support for leaders who want to talk freely and openly about their challenges with someone who has an objective perspective. Sally Percy, Forbes.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Verb
Dressed in a gorgeous green gown with matching heels and sporting perfectly coiffed hair, Spiro graced the Airbnb stage with her songs that evoke other-era classic vibes while still sounding fresh. Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 3 Aug. 2026 Mellencamp focused on his greatest hits, sounding robust at age 74. Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sounding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sounding
Noun
  • Adell has spent his entire career with the Angels after being the 10th overall pick in the 2017 amateur draft.
    David Brandt, Chicago Tribune, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The draft rules would require more documentation from parents who are homeless or unemployed, the people familiar with the deliberations told The Associated Press.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Antosca wanted to give a sense of Cady’s lingering impact on the family by ending with an outdoor cookout scene echoing the way the series began, when the Bowdens were more innocent.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 31 July 2026
  • Elsewhere, sharp use is made of a playful score by longtime Johnson collaborator Jay McCarrol, with sleepy piano passages echoing underlying notes of melancholy.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • Either way, Wanda comes out on top, her seeming death notwithstanding.
    EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Yet my party of work friends lingered, seeming to savor the change of venue.
    Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • One of the people voicing those calls is David Hogg, a gun violence prevention advocate who previously served as vice chair of the Democratic National Committee.
    Michel Martin, NPR, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Nearly 2 million Palestinians remain displaced, many in crowded tent camps, battling disease, hunger and dwindling aid, and voicing growing mistrust of both Hamas’ and Israel’s promises.
    Toqa Ezzidin, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Ahead of the 2026 football season, AJC Varsity is announcing our preseason all-state teams.
    Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness were married for 27 years before announcing their separation in September 2023 and finalizing their divorce in June 2025.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • Getty Images At first sight, the mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering work involved in construction doesn’t seem a prime target for disruption from artificial intelligence.
    David Prosser, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • But even as Moon landings, space shuttles, and reusable rockets seized the headlines, Link, along with a stubborn handful of engineers, explorers, and flat-out dreamers, kept plumbing the ocean instead.
    Bill Gourgey, Popular Science, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The beauty chose a plunging black dress that showcased her cleavage.
    Sarah Sotoodeh , Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Schumer opted for a plunging white corset top with a sweetheart neckline and an asymmetrical peplum hemline that flared down to her upper thighs.
    Lara Walsh, InStyle, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Cyrus’ flawless-looking skin was in part thanks to the Maybelline New York Lifter Plump and Glow Foundation, a sheer base that can be built up for more coverage.
    Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Other air styler round brushes leave my fine hair looking more wind-swept than blown-out, with a ton of fly-aways.
    Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 31 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sounding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sounding. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on sounding

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster