voluble
Americanadjective
adjective
-
talking easily, readily, and at length; fluent
-
archaic easily turning or rotating, as on an axis
-
rare (of a plant) twining or twisting
Related Words
See fluent.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of voluble
First recorded in 1565–75; from Latin volūbilis “that turns easily, flowing,” equivalent to volū-, base of volvere “to turn” + -bilis -ble; cf. revolve ( def. )
Explanation
Voluble describes someone who talks a lot, like your aunt who can’t stop telling you to cut your hair or a political candidate who makes twenty speeches on the day before the election. Have you ever found it especially hard to interrupt someone who talks a lot when he or she gets on a roll? If so, it won’t surprise you that the adjective voluble traces back to the Latin word volvere, meaning “to roll.” The word voluble describes talking continuously, fluently, at great length, in a steady flow. You’ll know it when you meet voluble talkers: they just keep rolling on and on.
Vocabulary lists containing voluble
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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.
For someone so voluble, President Trump isn’t the most effective at articulating a rationale for his strategic thinking.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 5, 2026
Asked by journalists if he viewed the report as a whitewash, Lange, the voluble New Zealand prime minister, scoffed.
From Slate • Jul. 22, 2025
Lou, conversely, was the toast of the town: an institution-building entrepreneur and voluble drinking buddy known for wearing loud turtlenecks, cracking ribald jokes and eating like a barn animal.
From New York Times • Apr. 5, 2024
A spokesman for Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York said the usually voluble leader had no comment.
From Washington Times • Dec. 18, 2023
The Englishman broke into voluble and perfect Italian.
From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway
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.
