1
a
: a particular auditory impression : tone
b
: the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing
c
: mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves in a material medium (such as air) and is the objective cause of hearing
2
a
: a speech sound
a peculiar r-sound
b
: value in terms of speech sounds
-cher of teacher and -ture of creature have the same sound
4
: hearing distance : earshot
within sound of your voice
5
: recorded auditory material
6
: a particular musical style characteristic of an individual, a group, or an area
the Nashville sound
sounded; sounding; sounds
1
a
: to cause to sound
sound a trumpet
2
: to put into words : voice
3
a
: to make known : proclaim
b
: to order, signal, or indicate by a sound
sound the alarm
4
: to examine by causing to emit sounds
sound the lungs
5
chiefly British
: to convey the impression of : sound like
that sounds a logical use of resources—
Economist
Economist1
2
: to make or convey an impression especially when heard
it sounds good to me
you sound just like your mother
1
a
: free from injury or disease
of sound mind
b
: free from flaw, defect, or decay
sound timber
2
3
a
: free from error, fallacy, or misapprehension
sound advice
sound reasoning
b
: exhibiting or based on thorough knowledge and experience
sound scholarship
c
: legally valid
a sound title
d
: logically valid and having true premises
a sound estimate
e
: agreeing with accepted views : orthodox
sound doctrine
4
5
: showing good judgment or sense
a sound advisor
: to the full extent : thoroughly
sound asleep
1
a
: a long broad inlet of the ocean generally parallel to the coast
b
: a long passage of water connecting two larger bodies (such as a sea with the ocean) or separating a mainland and an island
2
: the air bladder of a fish
sounded; sounding; sounds
1
: to measure the depth of : fathom
2
: to try to find out the views or intentions of : probe
—often used with out
3
: to explore or examine (a body cavity) with a sound
1
a
: to ascertain the depth of water especially with a sounding line
b
: to look into or investigate the possibility
sent commissioners … to sound for peace—Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson2
: to dive down suddenly
—used of a fish or whale
: an elongated instrument for exploring or sounding body cavities
Did you know?
English contains several sound homographs, all with distinct histories. For example, the sound that means "something heard" descends from Latin sonus ("sound"), whereas the sound that means "to measure the depth of water" traces to Middle French sonde ("sounding line"). Another sound, as in "of sound mind and body," is the contemporary form of Old English's gesund. Gesund is related to several words in other languages, such as Old Saxon gisund ("sound"), Old Frisian sund ("fresh, unharmed, healthy"), and Gothic swinths ("sound" or "healthy"). Another relative is Old High German's gisunt ("healthy"), which led to modern German's gesund, the root of gesundheit.
Synonyms
Noun (1)
Verb (1)
Adjective
- analytic
- analytical
- coherent
- consequent
- good
- logical
- rational
- reasonable
- sensible
- valid
- well-founded
- well-grounded
Noun (2)
Verb (2)
Examples of sound in a Sentence
Noun (1)
wandered off, out of her parents' sight and sound
Verb (1)
the stranded hiker's cries for help sounded throughout the canyon
the idea at least sounds plausible
a person who certainly isn't shy about sounding her opinions
the grand opening of the region's newest and largest mall has been loudly sounded for months
Adjective
a building of sound construction
The bridge is structurally sound.
a sound mind in a sound body
The tests show that his heart is sound.
She used sound reasoning in making the decision.
She gave us some sound advice.
She has a sound understanding of the system's structure.
The stock market has made a sound recovery.
Noun (2)
Long Island Sound is between Connecticut and Long Island, New York
Verb (2)
the pilot sounded the river to make sure we weren't in any danger of running aground
a whale suddenly surfaced and then, just as suddenly, sounded
Recent Examples on the Web
Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 22 Nov. 2024
To The End is an intimate glimpse into relationships, motivation and mortality, the sights and sounds of long-term friendship unearthing a fresh new conquest to overcome together.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 22 Nov. 2024
Jim Ruland, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
Or spend a night among the Amazon’s grand orchestra of wildlife sounds at regenerative travel operator 700,000 Heures Impact’s observatory tower, above the Cordillera Escalera cloud forest near Tarapoto.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2024
Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2024
This is a necessary shift from an era of easy money to one where growth must be earned through sound financial practices and disciplined strategy.
—Frank Sorrentino, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Simon Hill, WIRED, 28 Oct. 2022
His feats of strength while at the University of Oklahoma almost sound mythological.
—Jeff Fedotin, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sound 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Denzel didn’t just laugh at every joke; the sound coming from his mouth was more like a schoolboy’s giggle.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 22 Nov. 2024
To The End is an intimate glimpse into relationships, motivation and mortality, the sights and sounds of long-term friendship unearthing a fresh new conquest to overcome together.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
McDonald had a front row seat to the birth of Black Flag in Hermosa Beach, but Redd Kross sounds nothing like that group — or anyone else, for that matter.
—Jim Ruland, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
Or spend a night among the Amazon’s grand orchestra of wildlife sounds at regenerative travel operator 700,000 Heures Impact’s observatory tower, above the Cordillera Escalera cloud forest near Tarapoto.
—Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The physical model was inspired by resonance chambers–a structure that enhances the transfer of energy from a sound source, like the string of a guitar.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Nov. 2024
This is a necessary shift from an era of easy money to one where growth must be earned through sound financial practices and disciplined strategy.
—Frank Sorrentino, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Adverb
The trade-offs sound minor—chiefly AMD FreeSync Premium Pro instead of Nvidia’s G-Sync Ultimate and a lower 165-Hz refresh rate.
—Simon Hill, WIRED, 28 Oct. 2022
His feats of strength while at the University of Oklahoma almost sound mythological.
—Jeff Fedotin, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for sound
Articles Related to sound
Dictionary Entries Near sound
Cite this Entry
“Sound.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sound. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sound
1 of 6 adjective1
a
: not diseased or weak : healthy
a sound mind in a sound body
b
: free from imperfection or rot
2
: solid entry 1 sense 4, firm
a building of sound construction
4
a
: thorough sense 1
a sound revenge
b
: not disturbed
a sound sleep
c
: severe sense 3
a sound beating
5
: showing good judgment or sense
sound advice
sound
2 of 6 adverb
: to the full extent : thoroughly
sound asleep
sound
3 of 6 noun1
2
a
: one of the noises that together make up human speech
the sound of "th" in "this"
b
: a series of spoken noises
3
a
: meaningless noise
b
: the suggestion carried or given by something heard or said
the excuse has a suspicious sound
4
: hearing distance : earshot
within sound of my voice
sound
4 of 6 verb1
a
: to make or cause to make a sound
b
: resound
the auditorium sounded with applause
c
: resound sense 2
cheers are sounding throughout the gymnasium
d
: to give a signal by sound
the bugle sounds to battle
2
: pronounce sense 3a
sound each word clearly
3
: to put into words : voice
4
a
: to make known : proclaim
b
: to order, signal, or indicate by a sound
sound the alarm
5
: to make or give an impression especially when heard
sounds incredible
sound
5 of 6 noun
: a long passage of water that is wider than a strait and often connects two larger bodies of water or forms a channel between the mainland and an island
Etymology
Adjective
Old English gesund "free from injury or disease"
Noun
Middle English soun "a sound, something that can be heard," from early French son (same meaning), from Latin sonus "a sound" — related to unison
Noun
Old English sund "a sea, swimming"
Verb
Middle English sounden "to measure the depth of," from early French sonder (same meaning), from sonde "a line used for measuring depths"; probably of Germanic origin
Medical Definition
sound
1 of 4 adjective1
: free from injury or disease : exhibiting normal health
2
: deep and undisturbed
a sound sleep
soundness
noun
sound
2 of 4 noun1
: a particular auditory impression
heart sounds heard by auscultation
2
: the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing
3
: mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves in a material medium (as air) and is the objective cause of hearing
sound
3 of 4 transitive verb
: to explore or examine (a body cavity) with a sound
sound
4 of 4 noun
: an elongated instrument for exploring or examining body cavities
a uterine sound
Legal Definition
sound
1 of 2 adjective1
a
: free from injury or disease : exhibiting normal health
b
: free from flaw, defect, or decay
a sound design
2
a
: free from error, fallacy, or misapprehension
based on sound judicial reasoning
b
: legally valid
a sound title
3
: showing good judgment or sense
soundly
adverb
soundness
noun
sound
2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to be based or founded : have a specified basis for an action
—used with in
those remedies for rent which sounded in contract—O. W. Holmes, Jr.
O. W. Holmes, Jr.Love words? Need even more definitions?
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