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noun Uncommon

volley

VO-lee

Volley (noun) means a number of things, especially shots, insults, or questions, released or fired all at once. Example: “He fired off a volley of questions before she could answer the first.”

noun
1
A number of things, especially shots, insults, or questions, released or fired all at once.
"He fired off a volley of questions before she could answer the first."
2
In sports such as tennis or football, a shot in which the ball is hit before it touches the ground.
"She smashed a volley into the top corner of the net."
verb
1
To hit or strike a ball before it bounces.
"He volleyed the cross straight into the goal."

How to use volley

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSeveral things released together (like shots or questions), or hitting a ball in the air before it bounces.

Common pairings
volley of shots volley of abuse hit a volley

Word forms

volleyed past tense, volleys plural, volleys singular

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He fired off a _____ of questions before she could answer the first.

Etymology

From Middle French volée, "flight," ultimately from Latin volare, "to fly."

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for volley

See all rhymes for volley →

Frequently asked questions

What does “volley” mean?

The word “volley” means a number of things, especially shots, insults, or questions, released or fired all at once. In plain terms, several things released together (like shots or questions), or hitting a ball in the air before it bounces.

How do you pronounce “volley”?

“Volley” is pronounced VO-lee (/ˈvɑli/ in IPA).

How do you use “volley” in a sentence?

Here is “volley” used in a sentence: “He fired off a volley of questions before she could answer the first.”

What part of speech is “volley”?

Depending on how it is used, “volley” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “volley” come from?

The word “volley” comes from Latin. From Middle French volée, "flight," ultimately from Latin volare, "to fly.".

Is “volley” a common word?

“Volley” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “volley” have?

“Volley” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a number of things, especially shots, insults, or questions, released or fired all at once.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial