voluble

[vol-yuh-buhl]

adjective

1. characterized by a ready and continuous flow of words; fluent; glib; talkative.

   a voluble spokesman for the cause.

   Synonyms: loquacious, garrulous, articulate
   Antonyms: taciturn

voluble

/ ˈvɒljʊbəl /

adjective

1. talking easily, readily, and at length; fluent

2. archaic,  easily turning or rotating, as on an axis

3. rare,  (of a plant) twining or twisting

Other Word Forms

• volubly adverb
• volubility noun
• volubleness noun
• nonvoluble adjective
• nonvolubly adverb
• unvoluble adjective
• unvolubly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of voluble¹

First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin volūbilis “that turns easily, flowing,” equivalent to volū-, base of volvere “to turn” + -bilis -ble; revolve ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of voluble¹

C16: from Latin volūbilis turning readily, fluent, from volvere to turn

Synonym Study

See fluent.

Example Sentences

A voluble man, Loftus draws on his colorful life experience — “I was a bartender for years, broke up bar fights,” he said — to coach with a playful rigor.

From Los Angeles Times

The public address announcements at the Spring Street subway station — located near Disney’s downtown Manhattan headquarters — will be delivered by ESPN’s voluble $20-million-a-year man Stephen A. Smith, the co-host of “First Take.”

From Los Angeles Times

A quirky and voluble man, Kachuck is on a quest to save the California avocado, taking political and legal action against entrenched interests he sees as an impediment to farmers like him.

From Los Angeles Times

A president has wide authority to impose tariffs, and Trump has been so voluble about his love for the trade barriers that they appear inevitable.

From Los Angeles Times

Once he was in the courtroom, however, Trump was considerably less voluble, whispering to his lawyers, staring ahead and generally seeming unhappy to be there.

From New York Times

Related Words

• chatty 
• loquacious