volume
8 synonyms and 0 antonyms for volume, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — How loud a sound is, or the control that adjusts it.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use volume
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin volumen, "a roll" or "scroll," from volvere, "to roll" — ancient books were literally rolled scrolls before the codex format existed.
Full origin of volume →Frequently asked questions
What does “volume” mean?
The word “volume” means how loud a sound is, or the control that adjusts it. In plain terms, how loud something is, how much space it takes up, or how much of something there is in total — plus, a single book in a set.
How do you pronounce “volume”?
“Volume” is pronounced VOL-yoom (/ˈvɑl.jum/ in IPA).
How do you use “volume” in a sentence?
Here is “volume” used in a sentence: “Could you turn the volume down, please?”
What part of speech is “volume”?
“Volume” is a noun.
Where does the word “volume” come from?
The word “volume” comes from Latin. From Latin volumen, "a roll" or "scroll," from volvere, "to roll" — ancient books were literally rolled scrolls before the codex format existed.
Is “volume” a common word?
“Volume” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “volume” have?
“Volume” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: how loud a sound is, or the control that adjusts it.
What is the difference between volume and pitch?
Volume is how loud or quiet a sound is — its intensity. Pitch is how high or low a sound is, from a deep bass to a shrill whistle. You can raise the volume without changing the pitch, and sing the same pitch loudly or softly. They are separate properties of sound.
How do you adjust the volume?
Volume is changed using a control such as a knob, dial, slider, or a pair of up and down buttons on a device, remote, or app. Turning it up makes the sound louder; turning it down makes it quieter, and muting silences it completely.
What is the difference between volume and loudness?
The two overlap heavily in everyday use. Loudness is the actual perceived intensity of a sound, while volume often refers to the setting or control that determines that intensity — the volume knob sets how loud the output will be. In casual speech, though, people use them interchangeably.