voice

American  

[vois] / vɔɪs /

noun

• voices
  plural

1. the sound or sounds uttered through the mouth of living creatures, especially of human beings in speaking, shouting, singing, etc.

2. the faculty or power of uttering sounds through the mouth by the controlled expulsion of air; speech.

   to lose one's voice.

3. a range of such sounds distinctive to one person, or to a type of person or animal.

   Her voice is commanding.

4. the condition or effectiveness of the voice for speaking or singing.

   to be in poor voice.

5. a sound likened to or resembling vocal utterance.

   the voice of the wind.

   Synonyms:

   call, cry

6. something likened to speech as conveying impressions to the mind.

   the voice of nature.

7. expression in spoken or written words, or by other means.

   to give voice to one's disapproval by a letter.

8. the right to present and receive consideration of one's desires or opinions.

   We were given no voice in the election.

9. an expressed opinion or choice.

   a voice for compromise.

10. an expressed will or desire.

    the voice of the people.

11. expressed wish or injunction.

    obedient to the voice of God.

    Synonyms:

    command, order

12. the person or other agency through which something is expressed or revealed.

    a warning that proved to be the voice of prophecy.

    Synonyms:

    vocalist, organ, mouthpiece

13. a singer.

    one of our best voices.

14. a voice part.

    a score for piano and voice.

15. Phonetics. the audible result of phonation and resonance.

16. Grammar.

    1. a set of categories for which the verb is inflected in some languages, as Latin, and which is typically used to indicate the relation of the verbal action to the subject as performer, undergoer, or beneficiary of its action.

    2. a set of syntactic devices in some languages, as English, that is similar to this set in function.

    3. any of the categories of these sets.

       the English passive voice; the Greek middle voice.

17. the finer regulation, as of intensity and color, in tuning, especially of a piano or organ.

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verb (used with object)

• voices,
  present (3rd person singular)
• voiced,
  past participle,  past
• voicing
  present participle

1. to give utterance or expression to; declare; proclaim.

   to voice one's discontent.

   Synonyms:

   divulge, disclose, reveal, publish

2. Music.

   1. to regulate the tone of, as the pipes of an organ.

   2. to write the voice parts for (music).

3. to utter with the voice.

4. Phonetics. to pronounce with glottal vibration.

5. to interpret from sign language into spoken language.

adjective

1. Computers. of or relating to the use of human or synthesized speech.

   voice-data entry; voice output.

2. Telecommunications. of or relating to the transmission of speech or data over media designed for the transmission of speech.

   voice-grade channel;

   voice-data network.

idioms

1. the still, small voice, the conscience.

   He was only occasionally troubled by the still, small voice.

2. with one voice, in accord; unanimously.

   They arose and with one voice acclaimed the new president.

voice British  

/ vɔɪs /

noun

1. the sound made by the vibration of the vocal cords, esp when modified by the resonant effect of the tongue and mouth See also speech

2. the natural and distinctive tone of the speech sounds characteristic of a particular person

   nobody could mistake his voice

3. the condition, quality, effectiveness, or tone of such sounds

   a hysterical voice

4. the musical sound of a singing voice, with respect to its quality or tone

   she has a lovely voice

5. the ability to speak, sing, etc

   he has lost his voice

6. a sound resembling or suggestive of vocal utterance

   the voice of the sea

   the voice of hard experience

7. written or spoken expression, as of feeling, opinion, etc (esp in the phrase give voice to )

8. a stated choice, wish, or opinion or the power or right to have an opinion heard and considered

   to give someone a voice in a decision

9. an agency through which is communicated another's purpose, policy, etc

   such groups are the voice of our enemies

10. music

    1. musical notes produced by vibrations of the vocal cords at various frequencies and in certain registers

       a tenor voice

    2. (in harmony) an independent melodic line or part

       a fugue in five voices

11. phonetics the sound characterizing the articulation of several speech sounds, including all vowels or sonants, that is produced when the vocal cords make loose contact with each other and are set in vibration by the breath as it forces its way through the glottis

12. grammar a category of the verb or verbal inflections that expresses whether the relation between the subject and the verb is that of agent and action, action and recipient, or some other relation See active passive middle

13. obsolete rumour

14. obsolete (foll by of) fame; renown

15. in a condition to sing or speak well

16. with the voice temporarily in a poor condition, esp for singing

17. unanimously

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verb

1. to utter in words; give expression to

   to voice a complaint

2. to articulate (a speech sound) with voice

3. music to adjust (a wind instrument or organ pipe) so that it conforms to the correct standards of tone colour, pitch, etc

4. to provide the voice for (a puppet or cartoon character) in an animated film

voice More Idioms  

1. see at the top of one's lungs (voice); give voice to; have a say (voice) in; raise one's voice; still small voice; with one voice.

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Usage

What is a basic definition of voice? Voice is the sounds, especially speech, that a living thing makes using their mouth or the ability to use vocal chords and air to make sounds. Voice is also an expressed desire. Voice means to express something. In grammar, voice refers to how a verb is used in a sentence to express if the subject of the sentence is receiving or performing an action. Voice has many other senses as a noun, verb, and adjective. A person’s voice is all of those sounds you hear that you recognize as words or emotional noises, such as shouts or screams. While animals, such as monkeys and cats, also make noises using their mouths, voice is nearly always used to refer to the speech of humans. When a person says they heard a voice, they usually mean a noise that sounded like a person talking. Real-life examples: You can probably recognize people you know by only hearing their voice. When you talk on the phone, you are listening to someone’s voice. Used in a sentence: We heard loud voices coming from down the hallway. The word voice also refers to the ability to use air to make audible sounds. This sense is often used when a person loses their ability to speak, such as due to illness. Used in a sentence: The flu caused Jessica to lose her voice for a few days. Voice is also used to mean a stated desire or will. This sense is especially common when discussing politics, activism, protesting, or similar activities. Real-life examples: In the United States, citizens often express their voice by voting or sending messages to politicians. Politicians and other leaders are often expected to listen to the voice of the people rather than do whatever they want. Used in a sentence: The company listened to the voice of the customers and made changes to their new toy line. As a verb, voice means to utter or declare something. Real-life examples: People often voice their opinions on the Internet using social media. Employees sometimes voice concerns to their bosses during staff meetings. Used in a sentence: The animal rights group voiced their outrage at the city council meeting. The word voice is used in English grammar to refer to the two main ways we express “who is doing what to whom” in a sentence. English has two verb voices. In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb, as in Jim walks. In passive voice, the subject receives the action of the verb, as in The test was taken by the students. Active voice used in a sentence: Dennis baked a cake. Passive voice used in a sentence: A cake was baked by Dennis.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undervoice
  noun
• voicer
  noun
• outvoice
  verb (used with object)

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• voices
  plural

Participles

• voicing
  present
• voiced
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• voice
  simple
• voices
  simple
• have voiced
  perfect
• has voiced
  perfect
• am voicing
  progressive
• are voicing
  progressive
• is voicing
  progressive
• have been voicing
  perfect progressive
• has been voicing
  perfect progressive

Past

• voiced
  simple
• had voiced
  perfect
• was voicing
  progressive
• were voicing
  progressive
• had been voicing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will voice
  simple
• will have voiced
  perfect
• will be voicing
  progressive
• will have been voicing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of voice

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, (noun) from Anglo-French voiz, voice or directly from Old French voiz, vois, from Latin vōcem, accusative of vōx; akin to vocāre “to call,” Greek óps “voice,” épos “word” ( see epic), Sanskrit vakti “(he) speaks”

Explanation

Literally, your voice is the sound coming out of your mouth. Metaphorically, voice can also mean the way people express themselves. People have high voices, low voices, quiet voices, and loud voices — but the concept of voice goes well beyond people talking or singing. Writers talk about finding their voice, which means they've developed a unique identity or style. A lawyer can be your voice in court, where he can speak to the judge about your concerns. If you are shut out of some process, then you have no voice in that process.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

voice voices voiced voicing

Jones, two minutes later, riffing off her lyrics, her voice rising: “We gonna win! We gonna win! We gonna win — win it all!”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

"Her music will live on, carrying her voice and her story forward for generations to come," it said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

Ms. Howard’s voice is convincing in many emotional modes, and acquires extra power because she is unconcerned with perfection.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

“Soft Control”’s biggest delight is how fantastic Dulli’s voice sounds, and how prominent it is in the mix.

From Salon ● Aug. 25, 2026

I don’t need to look at her to know she’s crying, too; I can hear the tears in her voice.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

"Humans are natural explorers, and with them come their voices, their memories … and their microbes," said Prabal Saxena, a planetary scientist who led the study from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

“Our team is dedicated to minimizing any adverse effects on voters, and we will work diligently to safeguard their ability to make their voices heard and ensure their votes are properly recorded,” Logan said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

Stories like this are cropping up more frequently now that major studios are coming to understand that viewers want original stories from new voices.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026

Asked about the meeting, a State Department spokesperson said the agency regularly consults with a range of outside voices, and that officials’ engagement with a person or group doesn’t constitute an endorsement of views.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

These were typically female mediums who were entranced and spoke in the spirits’ voices.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

The billionaire investor, who worked with the treasury secretary at Soros Fund Management, voiced his disapproval of Bessent’s tactics in a strongly-worded oped published in the Wall Street Journal Monday.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

Emmy-award winning Harington, a lifelong fan of the books, already has some familiarity with his new role: The actor voiced Lockhart in Audible's star-studded Harry Potter: The Full-Cast Audio Editions last year.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

The appellate panel voiced serious doubts about undoing the consent decree at oral arguments in June.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

After his ouster in late July, Fedorov initially voiced limited criticism of the authorities, hoping to strike an agreement with Zelensky or prompt the president to reverse his decision, the former minister’s aides said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

But while some of the council members had also voiced their disapproval, the majority seemed to think the duke’s strategy to be a sound one.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

Newly released government documents, locals say, bolster concerns they have been voicing for the past three years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

Red Bull's lack of performance has led to Verstappen voicing frustration on a number of occasions, but in the end he has decided to stick with what he knows.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Since then he has assured fans that progress is ongoing, previously voicing hopes for completion dates that have since passed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026

"I don't have the means" to repair it, the 45-year-old cleaner said, voicing sadness about the loss of human life Venezuela has suffered.

From Barron's ● Jul. 18, 2026

Even the rabbinic faculty was split, most of the rabbis voicing their hope for a Jewish state, some of them opposing it, while all of the college faculty seemed to be for it.

From "The Chosen" by Chaim Potok

Related Words

• announce
• articulate
• assert
• declare
• deliver
• emphasize
• present
• proclaim
• say
• speak
• tell
• utter
• vent