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

• loudly adverb
• loudness noun
• 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

Others stick to his signature pastel-powered color palette, sport loud patterned sweater vests or even wear a button-up with a tie and baseball cap — as an ode to his most frequent silhouette.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“It was the Coen Brothers for crying out loud,” says the actor, 75.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The stadium was loud and overwhelmingly blue, with only a sprinkling of Tampa Bay fans.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The roar from the pro-Lakers road crowd was just as loud as anything the Jazz did.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But the loudest voices offering only contempt and scorn are found — where else? — online.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

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