1
a
: marked by intensity or volume of sound
loud music
b
: producing a loud sound
the marten was loud beside themDavid Walker
2
: clamorous, noisy
a loud crowd of people
3
: obtrusive or offensive in appearance or smell : obnoxious
the loudest pinstripe suit in historyJohn O'Reilly
loud adverb
loudly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for loud

loud, stentorian, earsplitting, raucous, strident mean marked by intensity or volume of sound.

loud applies to any volume above normal and may suggest undue vehemence or obtrusiveness.

loud shouts of protest

stentorian implies great power and range.

an actor with a stentorian voice

earsplitting implies loudness that is physically discomforting.

the earsplitting sound of a siren

raucous implies a loud harsh grating tone, especially of voice, and may suggest rowdiness.

the raucous shouts of drunken revelers

strident implies a rasping discordant but insistent quality, especially of voice.

the strident voices of hecklers

Examples of loud in a Sentence

She complained in a loud voice. “Is the television loud enough?” “It's too loud!” He's known for being loud and aggressive.
Recent Examples on the Web Darling said beach events got larger, louder and much more common during the pandemic, primarily as an alternative to bars and restaurants that were closed for many months. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2024 Charge devices ahead of time and set phones or alarms on a loud volume so you’re not caught unaware. Mary Gilbert, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024 Now with the general election informally underway at a time when the age and acuity of both presumptive presidential nominees is being driven to the forefront, experts say questions about Harris − and eventually Trump's running mate − will only get louder. Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024 In ancient China, a solar eclipse signaled that the sun was being devoured by a dragon; people would bang drums and make loud noises to scare off the beast and bring back daylight. Dan Falk, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024 Once the dough started to thicken, the machine got extra loud and shook significantly. Laura Denby, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Mar. 2024 The plot — conceived by Guest, McKean, Reiner, and Shearer — sees Spinal Tap, England’s loudest and most punctual band, reunite following a 15-year hiatus for one final concert. Alex Ritman, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024 Just know that this toy can be a bit loud, thanks to the motor powering cars around the track and the crashing cars. Erica Puisis, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024 Surrounded by the detritus of a Thanksgiving dinner, the woman was loading the dishwasher when a loud thump thundered through the house. Lisa Sanders, M.d., New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'loud.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English hlūd; akin to Old High German hlūt loud, Latin inclutus famous, Greek klytos, Sanskrit śṛṇoti he hears

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of loud was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near loud

Cite this Entry

“Loud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loud. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

loud

adjective
1
a
: marked by a high volume of sound
b
: producing a loud sound
2
3
: unpleasantly bold or bright in color or pattern
a loud plaid
loud adverb
loudly adverb
loudness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on loud

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