volley

American  

[vol-ee] / ˈvɒl i /

noun

volleys plural

1. the simultaneous discharge of a number of missiles or firearms.

2. the missiles so discharged.

3. a burst or outpouring of many things at once or in quick succession.

   a volley of protests.

4. Tennis.

   1. the flight of the ball before it hits the ground.

   2. the return of the ball before it hits the ground.

5. Soccer. a kick of the ball before it bounces on the ground.

6. Cricket. a ball so bowled that it hits the wicket before it touches the ground.

7. Mining. the explosion of several charges at one time.

---

verb (used with object)

volleys, present (3rd person singular) volleyed, past participle, past volleying present participle

1. to discharge in or as in a volley.

2. Tennis. to return (the ball) before it hits the ground.

3. Soccer. to kick (the ball) before it bounces on the ground.

4. Cricket. to bowl (a ball) in such a manner that it is pitched near the top of the wicket.

verb (used without object)

volleys, present (3rd person singular) volleyed, past participle, past volleying present participle

1. to fly or be discharged together, as missiles.

2. to move or proceed with great rapidity, as in a volley.

3. to fire a volley; sound together, as firearms.

4. Tennis, Soccer. to return the ball before it touches the ground.

volley British  

/ ˈvɒlɪ /

noun

1. the simultaneous discharge of several weapons, esp firearms

2. the projectiles or missiles so discharged

3. a burst of oaths, protests, etc, occurring simultaneously or in rapid succession

4. sport a stroke, shot, or kick at a moving ball before it hits the ground Compare half volley

5. cricket the flight of such a ball or the ball itself

6. the simultaneous explosion of several blastings of rock

---

verb

1. to discharge (weapons, etc) in or as if in a volley or (of weapons, etc) to be discharged

2. (tr) to utter vehemently or sound loudly and continuously

3. (tr) sport to strike or kick (a moving ball) before it hits the ground

4. (intr) to issue or move rapidly or indiscriminately

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• volleyer
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• volleys
  plural

Participles

• volleying
  present
• volleyed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• volley
  simple
• volleys
  simple
• have volleyed
  perfect
• has volleyed
  perfect
• am volleying
  progressive
• are volleying
  progressive
• is volleying
  progressive
• have been volleying
  perfect progressive
• has been volleying
  perfect progressive

Past

• volleyed
  simple
• had volleyed
  perfect
• was volleying
  progressive
• were volleying
  progressive
• had been volleying
  perfect progressive

Future

• will volley
  simple
• will have volleyed
  perfect
• will be volleying
  progressive
• will have been volleying
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of volley

1565–75; < Middle French volee flight, noun use of feminine past participle of voler to fly < Latin volāre

Explanation

When an attacking army lets loose a barrage of bullets all at once, it's called a volley. A volley of bullets, arrows, or rocks describes a large number of them being shot or thrown simultaneously. Another meaning of the noun volley involves just one projectile: a returned tennis ball, usually one that hasn't hit the ground before being smacked by a racket. The military meaning of volley has been around since the 1500's, while the sports meaning didn't arise until the late 1800's. The root word is the Latin volare, "to fly."

Example Sentences

With a cross-court forehand from Gauff threatening to fizz straight past her, the Czech player stretched out, leapt into the air and put away the volley winner before falling face down on the grass.

From BBC • Jul. 9, 2026

Fery has won 78% of serve and volley points, and 63% of points overall at the net - the second highest percentage in the men's draw.

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2026

But it ended with a bang with Eustáquio latching on to a loose ball at top of the box and blasting a right-footed volley just inside the left post.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2026

Williams' first touch of the ball came on the next point when she dumped a volley into the net.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

The phrase volley of abuse, for example, uses the image of a fusillade of bullets to describe an outpouring of anger.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Related Words

• burst
• crossfire
• firing
• gunfire
• salvo