loud

[loud]

adjective

louder, loudest 

1. (of sound) strongly audible; having exceptional volume or intensity.

   loud talking;

   loud thunder;

   loud whispers.

   Synonyms: stentorian, resounding, earsplitting
   Antonyms: quiet

2. making, emitting, or uttering strongly audible sounds.

   a quartet of loud trombones.

3. clamorous, vociferous, or blatant; noisy.

   a loud party;

   a loud demonstration.

4. emphatic or insistent.

   to be loud in one's praises;

   a loud denial.

5. garish, conspicuous, or ostentatious, as colors, dress, or the wearer of garish dress.

   loud ties;

   a loud dresser.

   Synonyms: showy, flashy, gaudy

6. obtrusively vulgar, as manners or persons.

7. strong or offensive in smell.

adverb

1. in a loud manner; loudly.

   Don't talk so loud.

loud

/ laʊd /

adjective

1. (of sound) relatively great in volume

   a loud shout

2. making or able to make sounds of relatively great volume

   a loud voice

3. clamorous, insistent, and emphatic

   loud protests

4. (of colours, designs, etc) offensive or obtrusive to look at

5. characterized by noisy, vulgar, and offensive behaviour

adverb

1. in a loud manner

2. audibly, as distinct from silently

Other Word Forms

• loudness noun
• loudly adverb
• overloud adjective
• overloudly adverb
• unloudly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of loud¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English hlūd; cognate with Old Frisian, Old Saxon hlūd ( Dutch luid ), Old High German hlūt ( German laut ); akin to Greek klytós “famous”

Word History and Origins

Origin of loud¹

Old English hlud; related to Old Swedish hlūd, German laut

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. out loud, aloud; audibly.

   I thought it, but I never said it out loud.

   Just whisper, don't speak out loud.

More idioms and phrases containing loud

• (loud enough) to wake the dead
• actions speak louder than words
• big (loud) mouth
• for crying out loud
• out loud
• think aloud

Synonym Study

Loud, noisy describe a strongly audible sound or sounds. Loud means characterized by a full, powerful sound or sounds, which make a strong impression on the organs of hearing: a loud voice, laugh, report. Noisy refers to a series of sounds, and suggests clamor and discordance, or persistence in making loud sounds that are disturbing and annoying: a noisy crowd.

Example Sentences

A Ventura County naval base wants its neighbors to know they’re going to host some guests — and things might get loud over the next few weeks.

From Los Angeles Times

"The warning bell that rang in the labour market a month ago just got louder," said Olu Sonola, head of US economic research for Fitch Ratings.

From BBC

They walked about 60 metres and heard a loud crash noise "like a rock falling, like a dump truck had dropped a load of rocks" at 18:02.

From BBC

If anything, the contrast between his self-importance and his actual worthlessness is drawing louder scorn all the time.

From Salon

As part of the settlement, they must tell all guests that loud and unruly parties are prohibited.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• big 
• boisterous 
• deafening 
• emphatic 
• heavy 
• intense 
• lusty 
• powerful 
• rambunctious 
• raucous 
• resounding 
• ringing www.thesaurus.com
• roaring 
• rowdy 
• strident 
• strong 
• thundering 
• vehement 
• vociferous