volume
VOL-yoom
Volume (noun) means How loud a sound is, or the control that adjusts it. Example: “She pressed the button to raise the volume on the radio.”
noun
1
How loud a sound is, or the control that adjusts it.
"She pressed the button to raise the volume on the radio."
"Could you turn the volume down, please?"
"The speakers distorted at high volume."
2
The amount of three-dimensional space something occupies, measured in cubic units.
"The volume of the box is found by multiplying length, width and height."
"Pour the juice into a jug with a larger volume than this glass."
"They calculated the volume of water needed to fill the tank."
3
The total amount of something, such as trade, traffic, or sales, over a period.
"The shop expects a higher sales volume during the holiday season."
"Heavy traffic volume on the motorway made everyone late for work."
"Trading volume spiked after the earnings report."
4
A single book, especially one of several forming a set.
"The second volume of the diary was found in the attic."
"He borrowed the first volume of the series from the library."
"The encyclopedia filled twelve volumes on the shelf."
How to use volume
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow loud something is, how much space it takes up, or how much of something there is in total — plus, a single book in a set.
Common pairings
turn up the volume
trading volume
the volume of a container
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like volume.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- volumes
- Third person singular
- volumes
- Past tense
- volumed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She pressed the button to raise the _____ on the radio.
Etymology
From Latin volumen, "a roll" or "scroll," from volvere, "to roll" — ancient books were literally rolled scrolls before the codex format existed.
Related words
Rhymes for volume
See all rhymes for volume →Frequently asked questions
What does “volume” mean?
The word “volume” means how loud a sound is, or the control that adjusts it. In plain terms, how loud something is, how much space it takes up, or how much of something there is in total — plus, a single book in a set.
How do you pronounce “volume”?
“Volume” is pronounced VOL-yoom (/ˈvɑl.jum/ in IPA).
How do you use “volume” in a sentence?
Here is “volume” used in a sentence: “Could you turn the volume down, please?”
What part of speech is “volume”?
“Volume” is a noun.
Where does the word “volume” come from?
The word “volume” comes from Latin. From Latin volumen, "a roll" or "scroll," from volvere, "to roll" — ancient books were literally rolled scrolls before the codex format existed.
Is “volume” a common word?
“Volume” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “volume” have?
“Volume” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: how loud a sound is, or the control that adjusts it.
What is the difference between volume and pitch?
Volume is how loud or quiet a sound is — its intensity. Pitch is how high or low a sound is, from a deep bass to a shrill whistle. You can raise the volume without changing the pitch, and sing the same pitch loudly or softly. They are separate properties of sound.
How do you adjust the volume?
Volume is changed using a control such as a knob, dial, slider, or a pair of up and down buttons on a device, remote, or app. Turning it up makes the sound louder; turning it down makes it quieter, and muting silences it completely.
What is the difference between volume and loudness?
The two overlap heavily in everyday use. Loudness is the actual perceived intensity of a sound, while volume often refers to the setting or control that determines that intensity — the volume knob sets how loud the output will be. In casual speech, though, people use them interchangeably.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include volume:
