volume

noun

ˈväl-(ˌ)yüm How to pronounce volume (audio)
Definition of volumenext
1
as in ton
a considerable amount we can only make money if we sell our goods in volume

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in amount
a given or particular mass or aggregate of matter produces great volumes of work each day

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in book
a set of printed sheets of paper bound together between covers and forming a work of fiction or nonfiction reissued the trilogy in a single volume

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in capacity
the largest number or amount that something can hold state the barrel's volume in terms of gallons

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word volume different from other nouns like it?

The words bulk and mass are common synonyms of volume. While all three words mean "the aggregate that forms a body or unit," volume applies to an aggregate without shape or outline and capable of flowing or fluctuating.

a tremendous volume of water

When can bulk be used instead of volume?

The meanings of bulk and volume largely overlap; however, bulk implies an aggregate that is impressively large, heavy, or numerous.

the darkened bulk of the skyscrapers

When might mass be a better fit than volume?

The words mass and volume are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mass suggests an aggregate made by piling together things of the same kind.

a mass of boulders

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 volume The weakness has been particularly visible in categories that depend on volume. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026 For domestic economies, the debate is no longer the volume of gold, but where to store it. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026 This volume captures now-legendary stands by the likes of Miles Davis, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin, Elvin Jones and Bill Evans. — Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 In fiscal 2026, P&G reported just one quarter of volume growth. — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for volume
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volume
  1. ton
  2. amount
  3. book
  4. capacity
  5. loads
  6. quantity
  7. paperback
  8. dozen
Noun
  • Deck said 20,000 to 25,000 tons of bone-dry biomass are available each year at the landfill.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • According to Japan’s Ministry of Finance, natto exports reached 5,248 tons in 2025, nearly tripling from 2017.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of ton
Noun
  • Taiya Herndon is scheduled to appear for a hearing over the amount of her bail, set at $500,000 to be paid in full, on Thursday.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Who knows if SpaceX will win the war, but with the amount of spectrum being bought by Musk and his ability to access capital, Starlink will most likely take share from Charter and Comcast first, and then AT & T and Verizon next.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of amount
Noun
  • In her latest book, Harvard historian Jill Lepore argues that Big Tech now controls the United States—and, by extension, the entire planet.
    — Nina Verdelli, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026
  • My books include The Underground Guide to Color Printers (Addison-Wesley), Troubleshooting Your PC (Microsoft Press), and Faster, Smarter Digital Photography (Microsoft Press).
    — M. David Stone, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of book
Noun
  • The additional site will further strengthen the company’s manufacturing network in Colorado and provide additional capacity for its growing space and sensor systems business.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The massive 5,942-lb (2,695 kg) weight is somewhat disguised by a system that swaps traditional mechanical anti-roll bars for triple-stage adjustable air springs linked to a high-capacity central hydraulic pressure reservoir.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of capacity
Noun
  • Cranes lift 200-ton loads at mountain bridge site The R4300-200 has a maximum lifting capacity of 200 metric tons (220 US tons) and an 80-meter jib (262 feet).
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Its remaining civil rights workers have described untenable case loads and pressure to dismiss complaints.
    — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of loads
Noun
  • Earlier this month, the Group of Seven wealthy democracies agreed to release 100 million barrels of oil and fuel products, beginning with substantial quantities of diesel after the fuel’s price hit a record high in the United States.
    — Samuel Petrequin, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The facts, however, are altogether against any such conclusion, for quite recently no less than 50 artificial butter factories were counted in this city, and large quantities of artificial butter are sold to the customer as genuine butter.
    — Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of quantity
Noun
  • Supporters say the new paperback edition, released by Macmillan Publishers, is just as relevant today as when the book first came out.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Heffers had bespoke children’s and paperback shops, Blackwell’s separate music and art shops.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of paperback
Noun
  • The advance notice allowed Baugh and his colleagues to alert dozens of grooms living in the barns to evacuate before the flood reached them.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The ruling allowed Oregon and dozens of other Western localities to limit where individuals living in cars, parks and other encampments stayed.
    — Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of dozen

Browse Nearby Words

voluble
volume
volumes
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Volume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volume. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on volume

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about volume

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All