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 The Samsung is loud enough to feel proportionate to its large screen size, but the TCL definitely fills the room more. John Archer, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024 Those who consume it are plunged into vivid hallucinations, often preceded by a loud buzzing noise, that last between 24 and 48 hours. Shayla Love, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2024 That's when they were met with a loud, blunt ask, causing everyone to erupt into laughter. Ashlyn Robinette, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024 This contingent is loud and heavily concentrated in the swing state of Michigan. The Editors, National Review, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for loud 

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 31 Oct. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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