sound out

British  

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to question (someone) in order to discover (opinions, facts, etc)

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sound out Idioms  

1. Seek the views or intentions of, as in We'd better sound out Mom about who's using the station wagon, or Let's sound out the staff before we decide which week we should close for vacation. This expression derives from sound meaning “to measure the depth of water by lowering a line or lead.” It was transferred to other kinds of inquiry in the late 1500s, but out was not added for several centuries.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sound out

Then you sound out those highlighted letters, pronounced as they appear in the original clue answers, to solve the final mystery word.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

Several of her hits have vintage charm—they wouldn’t sound out of place in a honky-tonk in the 1980s.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026

Some Chicagoans are taking security measures into their own hands, establishing neighborhood patrols that sound out warnings when they see or suspect immigration enforcement operations.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2025

The moment that mournful violins sound out their familiar melody, I bawl.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2024

I make my eyes stay open and watch her mouth sound out each word, making them sing.

From "Finding Langston" by Lesa Cline-Ransome

Related Words

• bark
• clang
• honk
• hoot
• resound
• roar
• scream
• shout
• shriek
• toot
• trumpet