loud

The word “loud” means producing a lot of sound; not quiet. In plain terms, making a lot of noise, or (of clothes/patterns) flashy and attention-grabbing.

“Loud” is pronounced LOWD (/ˈlaʊ̯d/ in IPA).

Here is “loud” used in a sentence: “The concert was so loud we could feel the bass in our chests.”

Words with a similar meaning to “loud” include ample, blaring, forceful, forte, fortissimo and noisy.

The opposite of “loud” — its antonyms — are quiet, silent, soft, calm and low.

“Loud” is an adjective.

The word “loud” comes from Latin. From Old English hlud, meaning "noisy" or "famous," ultimately from a root meaning "to hear" — the same root gives us "listen" and the Latin-derived word "laud" (praise).

“Loud” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

Loud simply describes a high volume of sound, which may be pleasant or wanted, like loud music at a concert. Noisy suggests sound that is unwanted, harsh, or disturbing, and often involves a jumble of different sounds. So something can be loud without being noisy, and noisy without being especially loud.

The main opposites are "quiet," "soft," and "faint," all describing low levels of sound. "Silent" or "noiseless" go further, meaning no sound at all. When "loud" describes bright, garish colours or clothing, its opposites shift instead to words like "muted," "subtle," or "understated."

Yes. Beyond sound, "loud" is often used for colours, patterns, or outfits that are excessively bright, bold, or gaudy, as in "a loud Hawaiian shirt." Used this way it usually carries a hint of criticism, suggesting something is a little too much for comfortable or tasteful surroundings.

Loudness relates to the intensity of sound, which is measured in decibels (dB). A whisper sits around 30 decibels, normal conversation around 60, and a rock concert can exceed 110. Because the scale is logarithmic, each ten-decibel rise represents a large jump, and sustained high levels can damage hearing.