voice

Voice is the sounds, especially speech, that a living thing makes using their mouth or the ability to use vocal chords and air to make sounds. Voice is also an expressed desire. Voice means to express something. In grammar, voice refers to how a verb is used in a sentence to express if the subject of the sentence is receiving or performing an action. Voice has many other senses as a noun, verb, and adjective.

A person’s voice is all of those sounds you hear that you recognize as words or emotional noises, such as shouts or screams. While animals, such as monkeys and cats, also make noises using their mouths, voice is nearly always used to refer to the speech of humans. When a person says they heard a voice, they usually mean a noise that sounded like a person talking.

Real-life examples: You can probably recognize people you know by only hearing their voice. When you talk on the phone, you are listening to someone’s voice.

Used in a sentence: We heard loud voices coming from down the hallway. 

The word voice also refers to the ability to use air to make audible sounds. This sense is often used when a person loses their ability to speak, such as due to illness.

Used in a sentence: The flu caused Jessica to lose her voice for a few days. 

Voice is also used to mean a stated desire or will. This sense is especially common when discussing politics, activism, protesting, or similar activities.

Real-life examples: In the United States, citizens often express their voice by voting or sending messages to politicians. Politicians and other leaders are often expected to listen to the voice of the people rather than do whatever they want.

Used in a sentence: The company listened to the voice of the customers and made changes to their new toy line. 

As a verb, voice means to utter or declare something.

Real-life examples: People often voice their opinions on the Internet using social media. Employees sometimes voice concerns to their bosses during staff meetings.

Used in a sentence: The animal rights group voiced their outrage at the city council meeting. 

The word voice is used in English grammar to refer to the two main ways we express “who is doing what to whom” in a sentence. English has two verb voices. In active voice, the subject of the sentence performs the action of the verb, as in Jim walks. In passive voice, the subject receives the action of the verb, as in The test was taken by the students.

Active voice used in a sentence: Dennis baked a cake. 

Passive voice used in a sentence: A cake was baked by Dennis.

The first records of the term voice come from around 1250. It ultimately comes from the Latin vōx.

What are some other forms related to voice?

• voicer (noun)
• outvoice (verb)
• undervoice (noun)

What are some synonyms for voice?

• speech
• cry
• opinion
• view
• assert
• declare
• utter

What are some words that share a root or word element with voice? 

• voiceless
• vocal
• voice box
• voice-over
• raise one’s voice

What are some words that often get used in discussing voice?

• speech
• language
• actor
• booming 
• singing
• speaking

Voice is a common word that most often refers to the speaking sounds that a person makes.

Pet Peeve: loud voices and noises at early hours in the morning.

— Trevor Evans (@trevor_5k) November 24, 2020

Sofia whimpered in pain weakly. The pain was almost enough to pull her to consciousness. She could here River but her voice came and went in waves. Sofia felt herself drift away again.

— Mafia Princess (@gxthams_Falcone) December 22, 2020

It has been revealed to me that I am sometimes given to the passive voice in things written by me.

— Matt Ferris (@ferrismattic) November 24, 2020

Is voice used correctly in the following sentence?

The police heard a mysterious voice in the wall, which turned out to be a burglar making a phone call.