echo
EHK-oh
Echo (verb) means of a sound, to bounce off a surface and be heard again; to reverberate. Example: “Their voices echoed around the large stone hall.”
verb
1
Of a sound, to bounce off a surface and be heard again; to reverberate.
"Their voices echoed around the large stone hall."
"Her footsteps echoed down the empty corridor."
"Thunder echoed across the valley long after the flash of lightning."
2
To repeat or reflect someone else's words, opinion, or feeling.
"Her colleagues echoed her call for a longer lunch break."
"Critics echoed the same complaint about the film's slow beginning."
"His speech echoed concerns that many voters had already raised."
noun
1
A sound reflected back to the listener; also, a repetition of an idea or feeling.
"We shouted into the cave and heard our voices return as a faint echo."
"There was an echo of her mother's kindness in the way she spoke."
"The old man's worries were an echo of his father's."
How to use echo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sound bouncing back, or figuratively, an idea or feeling being repeated or reflected elsewhere.
Common pairings
echo through the hall
faint echo
echo someone's sentiments
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- echoes
- Past tense
- echoed
Fill the gap
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Their voices _____ around the large stone hall.
Etymology
From Greek ēkhṓ, "sound" or "echo," via Latin and Old French — in Greek myth, Echo was a nymph condemned by Hera to only repeat the last words spoken to her.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “echo” mean?
The word “echo” means of a sound, to bounce off a surface and be heard again; to reverberate. In plain terms, a sound bouncing back, or figuratively, an idea or feeling being repeated or reflected elsewhere.
How do you pronounce “echo”?
“Echo” is pronounced EHK-oh (/ˈɛk.oʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “echo” in a sentence?
Here is “echo” used in a sentence: “Her footsteps echoed down the empty corridor.”
What part of speech is “echo”?
Depending on how it is used, “echo” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “echo” come from?
The word “echo” comes from Latin. From Greek ēkhṓ, "sound" or "echo," via Latin and Old French — in Greek myth, Echo was a nymph condemned by Hera to only repeat the last words spoken to her.
Is “echo” a common word?
“Echo” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
How many meanings does “echo” have?
“Echo” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: of a sound, to bounce off a surface and be heard again; to reverberate.
Is the plural of echo "echoes" or "echos"?
The standard plural is echoes, with -es. The same spelling appears in the verb form — "the canyon echoes" — while the past tense is echoed and the present participle is echoing.
What is the difference between an echo and a reverberation?
An echo is a sound that bounces off a surface and is heard again as a distinct repetition. Reverberation is the overlapping persistence of many reflections, heard as a prolonged tail of sound rather than a separate repeat. You hear an echo across a canyon and reverberation inside a large hall.
What is an echo chamber?
An echo chamber is an environment — often a social media feed or a like-minded group — in which people mainly hear opinions that repeat and reinforce their own. The metaphor comes from a space where sounds are reflected back, so the same ideas keep bouncing around unchallenged.
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