noun
volley
VO-lee
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 notesIn 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."