sounding

¹ American  

[saun-ding] / ˈsaʊn dɪŋ /

adjective

Archaic.

1. emitting or producing a sound or sounds.

2. resounding or sonorous.

3. having an imposing sound; high-sounding; pompous.

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noun

1. a verbal contest or confrontation, as among teenage boys or street-gang members, in which the trading of often elaborate insults and invective takes the place of physical violence.

sounding ² American  

[saun-ding] / ˈsaʊn dɪŋ /

noun

1. Often soundings. the act of measuring the depth of an area of water with or as if with a lead and line.

2. soundings,

   1. an area of water that can be sounded with an ordinary lead and line, the depth being 100 fathoms (180 meters) or less.

   2. the results or measurement obtained by sounding with a lead and line.

3. Meteorology. any vertical penetration of the atmosphere for scientific measurement, especially a radiosonde observation.

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idioms

1. off soundings, in waters beyond the 100-fathom (180-meter) depth.

2. on soundings, in waters less than 100 fathoms (180 meters) deep, so that the lead can be used.

sounding ¹ British  

/ ˈsaʊndɪŋ /

noun

1. (sometimes plural) the act or process of measuring depth of water or examining the bottom of a river, lake, etc, as with a sounding line

2. an observation or measurement of atmospheric conditions, as made using a radiosonde or rocketsonde

3. (often plural) measurements taken by sounding

4. (plural) a place where a sounding line will reach the bottom, esp less than 100 fathoms in depth

5. in waters less than 100 fathoms in depth

6. in waters more than 100 fathoms in depth

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sounding ² British  

/ ˈsaʊndɪŋ /

adjective

1. resounding; resonant

2. having an imposing sound and little content; pompous

   sounding phrases

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Other Word Forms

• soundingness
  noun
• soundingly
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of sounding¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English; sound ¹ + -ing ²

Origin of sounding²

First recorded 1300–50; Middle English; see origin at sound ³, -ing ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sounding

She flew to longtime ally India, where she has remained ever since, only occasionally addressing news conferences by telephone, her voice sounding frail.

From Barron's ● Nov. 11, 2026

Interim President Rodríguez and opposition leader Machado laid out competing visions, sounding the opening gun of a power struggle.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

Lately I’ve noticed the press has been sounding the alarm about the possibility of a downturn in consumer spending.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026

The symphony orchestra takes its name from the Greek symphonía, meaning sounding in agreement, and orkhēstra which implies a public stage for dance or, in ancient Rome, where senators and other big shots sat.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

My question comes out sounding a little like an accusation, but no one seems to notice.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

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