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

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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

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

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sounds

3 of 4

noun (1)

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

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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

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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
Early on, the Pisces Moon in your 3rd House of Communication opposes Venus in your 9th House of Perspective, creating tension between what sounds nice and what is actually true. Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026 From faux foliage on the ceiling to animal sounds playing softly in the bathroom stalls, the whole experience feels as if the Rainforest Cafe was rebranded for adults with deep pockets. Connie Ogle july 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026 Sights and sounds that haven't been heard at the Fletcher Amos Playground Pool in North Philadelphia since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Dan Snyder, CBS News, 31 July 2026 No sentence in corporate life sounds more like the beginning of an examination, and none more dependably marks the end of one. Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Put away your phone, slow your pace and pay attention to the sights, sounds and textures around you. Todd Lookingbill, The Conversation, 31 July 2026 That sounds useful, but these machines also see and hear a lot. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026 This all sounds very positive and warrants further investigation. Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 30 July 2026 How to Design a Cashmere Kitchen A neutral kitchen sounds simple, but layering neutrals requires a careful hand. Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2026
Noun
The time frame allows the project's stewards and visitors to contemplate not only Cage's legacy but their own as guardians of the organ and its sounds. ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026 The sound design — marked by silences, ambient natural sounds such as snowfall and birdsong, the unhurried rhythm of speech, and an original score built on tranquil orchestral elements — amplifies the film’s contemplative tone. Vanessa Rampton, STAT, 5 Aug. 2026 If sounds bother you, look for a rock tumbler featuring a quieter performance. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026 The Venezuelan artist’s latest LP harks back to her experimental mixtapes &&&&& and @@@@@, trading the KiCK series’ pop and reggaeton impulses for confrontational, uncompromising electronic sounds. Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 4 Aug. 2026 And an extremely catchy German song has gone viral in part because its lyrical refrain sounds goofy to ears used to English. Greg Myre, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026 But my favorite was when one of us was trapped in a room with different sounds playing. Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 As the Mooton host approaches in the forest, the sounds of a war drum fill the air, like a resounding heartbeat. Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026 Then tinnitus and whooshing sounds started in my ears, more and more often. Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sounds
Verb
  • Their midnight rendezvous seems doomed to end in a quarrel until Mysaria heeds Sylvi’s advice.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
  • But the ambulance driver seems to view the Pathfinder as a threat and drives away.
    Sydney Brownstone, NPR, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • At Comic-Con, Dinniman hosted two panels alongside Jeff Hays, who voices more than 200 zany characters in the audiobook versions of the novels.
    Angelique Jackson, Variety, 28 July 2026
  • Or when a culturally conservative player/podcaster, Sophie Cunningham, voices her opinion on trans athletes.
    Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Verb
  • The Social Security Administration usually announces the next year’s COLA in October, after inflation data for July, August and September is finalized.
    Jason St. Angelo, USA Today, 29 July 2026
  • The house, in places, still announces exactly when it was built.
    Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Verb
  • Ophelia’s Got Talent plumbs the depths of the nineteenth-century cult of Ophelia, epitomized in John Everett Millais’s famous painting of her watery death.
    Caroline Lillian Schopp, Artforum, 13 May 2026
  • As Latifi plumbs the industry, what stands out is just how manufactured this content is, and how often the children are being manipulated to perform.
    Kristen Martin, The Atlantic, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • Dreams may be a universal and rich experience that plunges us into the unconscious to evoke some truth.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 July 2026
  • Dexter grapples with killing her, but Rudy eventually can’t handle Dexter’s hesitance and takes the knife into his own hands—and nearly plunges it into Debra’s chest before Dexter stops him.
    EW Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • The city filed a lawsuit to fight the arbitrator’s ruling, and a circuit court judge later ruled that officers indeed do have the right to have cases heard by an arbitrator, but those hearings must be publicly accessible.
    Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Those who favor stricter immigration laws see the swift hearings as a course-correction for a longstanding problem.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • A week later and there’s been a whole investigation into the YouTuber and author for use of generative AI in his videos, writing, and research across multiple YouTube channels and books.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Rendered in a tomato color palette, the retro motif gets a fresh update that channels ‘60s charm with a decidedly summer-ready twist.
    Amanda Le, InStyle, 3 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Finding that balance, Amin said, looks different for every family.
    Tara Duncan, AJC.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Do not agree to a setup that looks generous but doesn’t benefit you.
    Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sounds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sounds. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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