sounding board
Americannoun
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a thin, resonant plate of wood forming part of a musical instrument, and so placed as to enhance the power and quality of the tone.
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a structure over or behind and above a speaker, orchestra, etc., to reflect the sound toward the audience.
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a board used in floors, partitions, etc., for deadening sound.
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a person or persons whose reactions serve as a measure of the effectiveness of the methods, ideas, etc., put forth.
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a person or group that propagates ideas, opinions, etc..
He was more of a sounding board than a novelist.
noun
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Also called: soundboard. a thin wooden board in a piano or comprising the upper surface of a resonating chamber in a violin, cello, etc, serving to amplify the vibrations produced by the strings passing across it See also belly
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Also called: soundboard. a thin screen suspended over a pulpit, stage, etc, to reflect sound towards an audience
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a person, group, experiment, etc, used to test a new idea, policy, etc, for acceptance or applicability
Etymology
Origin of sounding board
First recorded in 1760–70
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He has also signaled a more direct role in Mamdani’s early tenure, indicating he would serve as a sounding board for the new mayor as he navigates the demands of the office.
From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026
Where AI tools genuinely shine, Kates said, is as a “second brain,” or a sounding board for financial strategy, rather than an executor of it.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 19, 2026
In its first two seasons, Domingo serves as the show’s heart, a transparent sounding board for the troubled main character to unload deep trauma.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026
McInnes knows he is privileged to be able to use Ferguson as a sounding board after a glittering managerial career, including 13 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues with United.
From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026
From Chester’s kittenhood on, Mr. Monroe has used him as a sounding board for all his student lectures.
From "Bunnicula" by Deborah Howe and James Howe
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
