Definition of volumenext
1
2
as in amount
a given or particular mass or aggregate of matter produces great volumes of work each day

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
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 That’s according to research published this week in Evolution, which offers baseline volume measurements for more than 100 bird species. — Meghan Bartels, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026 This beautiful retrospective volume shows a poet developing steadily, from the graceful descriptions and encoded trauma of the poems from the 1990s through the loosening music and political engagement of the books of the last ten years. — Craig Morgan Teicher, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026 Practices inside one group can have different practice management systems, specialties, scheduling rules, insurance participation, call volumes, provider preferences and emergency protocols. — Manjot Pal, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026 Higher oil prices have largely offset lower export volumes, lifting revenue above prewar estimates, but spending is set to rise faster. — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for volume
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volume
Noun
  • Every ton of greenhouse gas that humans can avoid releasing today reduces how much ice Antarctica loses this century, and the benefit – slower and less sea-level rise – lasts for hundreds of years.
    — Robert Kopp, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Gower pointed specifically to China and Poland, which purchased 20 metric tons and 8 tons of gold, respectively, during July.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • While designers have no current use for their jump-otronic robots, the sheer amount of robotics development for terrestrial and extra-planetary exploration suggests that the photoleapers are a solution that will eventually find their problem.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Being a competitive athlete involves a certain amount of discipline.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The other option was to take a brave choice, which would make for a better book, right?
    — Robert Sullivan, Vogue, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Related Stories Colin Jost also appears as himself, reading his own children’s book to the Springfield Elementary audience, much to their indifference.
    — Michael Schneider, Variety, 26 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The stations are standardised, so capacity is added by replicating them, and this line is the blueprint for future local for local expansion, as per the release.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Nscale has just won a huge contract to supply computing capacity to Anthropic worth $45 billion over six years.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 27 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Presenter Zane Lowe has conducted loads of candid interviews with new and established musicians, and the company's Los Angeles studio has captured dozens of memorable performances for posterity.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The two feature about 2,000 sensors that measure loads, airflow, vibrations and how the turbines interact with each other.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Ambitious mukbang-ers eager to prove their gastronomic stamina descended on Red Lobster locations across the country to consume absurd quantities of shrimp.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • For creators pitching Amazon, the executives stressed conviction over quantity.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Lion Hearts, the third novel in his Essex Dogs trilogy, a thriller series set in 14th-century France and England, is now in paperback.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Published in 1986 by Simon & Schuster, McMurtry’s novel — the first in the Lonesome Dove book series — spent 24 consecutive weeks in hardcover and 28 consecutive weeks in paperback on NYT’s Bestseller list, selling over 4 million copies.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • It has been visited as a curiosity for decades, and it can be seen online in dozens of photos taken during different seasons by passers-through.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The event at the 12-acre West Midtown art center, which this year will take place Saturday, features dozens of artists, live music, open studios and other ephemeral experiences.
    — Tess Malone, AJC.com, 30 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Volume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volume. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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