sounds 1 of 4

present tense third-person singular of sound
1
as in echoes
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
4

sounds

2 of 4

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of sound
1
as in plumbs
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 plunges
to cast oneself head first into deep water a whale suddenly surfaced and then, just as suddenly, sounded

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sounds

3 of 4

noun (1)

plural of sound
as in hearings
range of hearing wandered off, out of her parents' sight and sound

Synonyms & Similar Words

sounds

4 of 4

noun (2)

plural of sound
as in channels
a narrow body of water between two land masses Long Island Sound is between Connecticut and Long Island, New York

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 sounds
Verb
But if the thought of freezing cold isolation and bunk pods sounds more like punishment than adventure, Mongolia’s Gobi already offers glimpses of the otherworldly in a far more comfortable setting. Rosanna Philpott, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025 And that all of course sounds nice (especially when introducing a customer base to your new brand). Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 24 Oct. 2025 Audiences had never seen anything like The Exorcist when it was first released in 1973, particularly the horrifying images and sounds coming from 12-year-old Regan (Linda Blair) after being possessed by the demon Pazuzu. Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025 The electric version starts the same, but that plaintive wail sounds more like a call to mischief. Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025 These rare prints often feature extra-rich colors and sounds, and can have a graininess that true movie buffs love. Sophie-Claire Hoeller, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025 If that sounds at all like a newcomer to the Giants’ dugout late last season, well, he was quoted in the piece. Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025 That sounds more like a nightmare, right? Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2025 If one villa on Ibiza sounds dreamy, try two. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
The EPs build upon that song, fully celebrating themes of family, love and emotional struggle, wrapping it in sounds intersecting modern country and Latin music. Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2025 Dogs can hear sounds that are both much higher in pitch (up to 65,000 Hertz) and much quieter (as low as -15 decibels) than humans can, giving them extraordinary sensitivity to noises completely beyond our range. Clarissa Brincat, Popular Science, 23 Oct. 2025 The concept of those parties was to cram as many people as possible into a very small basement, encourage everyone to get totally wasted, and then unleash the sounds of Meltdown at pain level. Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025 The lizards fled in response to smoke but were unphased by water vapor, wildfire sounds or white noise. Clarissa Brincat, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2025 The target audience will presumably be sent whooshing back in time to the summer of 2007 by the Proustian sounds of Vegas rock band The Killers, whose music plays a significant role for two of the main characters. Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025 Drums are instruments made up of numerous sounds, Fleming said. Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025 Visitors have reported seeing soldiers strolling across the fields, a general on the back porch and the sounds of a cook who worked for the family during the war. Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025 This one can literally fit in your pocket, has 15 looping sounds, can be set to a timer and is rechargeable for on-the-go zen. Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 21 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sounds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sounds. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sounds

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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