adjective
Common
sounding
SOWN-dihng
Sounding (adjective) means producing or giving off sound. Example: “A deep, sounding gong echoed through the temple.”
adjective
1
Producing or giving off sound.
"A deep, sounding gong echoed through the temple."
noun
1
The act of measuring the depth of water, especially at sea, or of testing something by probing it.
"The captain ordered regular soundings while the ship crept through the narrow channel."
"The crew took soundings to check the depth before entering the harbor."
"Doctors sometimes take soundings of a patient's opinion before recommending surgery, figuratively speaking."
How to use sounding
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither something that makes noise, or the act of measuring depth (literally, with a weighted line, or figuratively, testing opinion).
Common pairings
take soundings
sounding board
deep-sounding voice
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Word forms
- Plural
- soundings
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Can you complete this real example?
A deep, _____ gong echoed through the temple.
Etymology
From sound (in the sense "to measure depth" or "produce a sound") plus the suffix -ing.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for sounding
See all rhymes for sounding →Frequently asked questions
What does “sounding” mean?
The word “sounding” means producing or giving off sound. In plain terms, either something that makes noise, or the act of measuring depth (literally, with a weighted line, or figuratively, testing opinion).
How do you pronounce “sounding”?
“Sounding” is pronounced SOWN-dihng (/ˈsaʊndɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sounding” in a sentence?
Here is “sounding” used in a sentence: “A deep, sounding gong echoed through the temple.”
What part of speech is “sounding”?
Depending on how it is used, “sounding” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “sounding” a common word?
“Sounding” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sounding” have?
“Sounding” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: producing or giving off sound.
What is a sounding in nautical terms?
In nautical use, a sounding is the act of measuring the depth of water, especially at sea. Historically this was done with a weighted line, and the term now covers depth measurement generally.
What is the difference between sounding and sound?
Sound is the base word referring to what is heard, or to measuring depth. Sounding is its related form: as an adjective it means producing sound, and as a noun it refers to the act of measuring depth or probing something.
How is 'sounding' used in compounds like 'good-sounding'?
As an adjective, sounding means producing or giving off sound, and it commonly forms compounds such as "good-sounding," "official-sounding," or "hollow-sounding." These describe how something comes across to the listener.
