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 No additional rail volumes were being accepted Thursday, while Friday capacity was listed as very high. Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026 That is an enormous volume of borrowing outside crisis times. Matt Peterson, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026 Their ADPs are pushed up by market optimism, but pushed down by a lack of projectable volume. Ben Gretch, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Organizations must also monitor output quality by risk, human overrides, false results, escalation volume, complaints, model drift and performance across employee groups. Michael Tyrimos, Forbes.com, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for volume
Recent Examples of Synonyms for volume
Noun
  • Optimal Transit The original 100-MW Kraaken concept is a roughly 300-ft (91-m), 50,000-long-ton vessel, while the smaller 10/20-MW design measures around 250 ft (76 m).
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The Taiwanese navy is planning to invest heavily in large surface combatants, including a new 7,000-ton warship and as many as 12 3,000-ton light frigates.
    HOLMES LIAO, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The amount of business done between Premier League clubs quickly emerged as the defining theme of this summer’s transfer window.
    Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Maui could receive 2 to 4 inches, with locally higher amounts approaching 8 inches.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • In addition to Jim Murray’s anthology, here are some other sports books that have inspired Wickersham.
    Aaron Reiss, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • In late July, HRW released a book-length report documenting the crimes committed in the first four months of the conflict.
    Aryeh Neier, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Talent flight across many ASEAN economies prevents them from developing the technocratic capacity needed for advanced technology and energy sectors.
    Brian Wong, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The festival, with a capacity of 80,000 people, also was hit with mud and rain in 2023 as many attendees were trapped on its grounds, where vehicle traffic was temporarily limited and some hiked in the mud to nearby towns.
    Dennis Romero, NBC news, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The size and specialized nature of these loads can also create opportunities for carriers to take on new customers and routes.
    Kevin Williams, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Faster speeds generally mean a compromise in quality, multi-color 3D printers often waste some filament, and higher volume loads usually demand more hardware.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 5 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The quantity of shots allowed is a major reason, with 44 in total, 15 of which have been on target.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • At present, lithium-ion batteries excel at short-term electricity storage (hours), but hydrogen can be stored in large quantities in underground salt caverns for months, balancing seasonal swings in renewable energy production.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Yen Press released an English translation in digital and paperback formats in 2020.
    Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The new paperback edition retains the classic story that charmed young readers, while bringing a new design and package.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In the aftermath, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in what turned out to be Turkey’s largest protests in a dozen years.
    Nick TaborAll, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Gravest Gravy, an album consisting of a dozen previously unheard tracks that were recorded in 1977, with Big Star’s Alex Chilton producing, captures the band’s pioneering psychobilly sound at its birth.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Volume.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/volume. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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