sound

Use “sound” for things that you hear. It’s also useful when talking about personal impressions.  

  • What’s that sound? 
  • There’s a strange sound coming from the basement. 
  • The sound is too loud! Please turn it down. 
  • His guitar doesn’t sound like it’s properly tuned up. 
  • That really sounds bad. 
  • Is there any sound coming from the speaker? 
  • What a pleasant sound. 
Detailed close-up of a modern speaker woofer cone showing texture and design.

A loudspeaker produces sound. 

a. sound = something that a person hears

Your ears hear sounds. 

  • The sound of music is heard during the holidays
  • That’s a beautiful sound. 
  • How does a piano produce sound? 
  • Where is that sound coming from? 
  • The sound on the TV is too low. I can’t hear it. 
  • A siren make a very loud sound. 
  • I hate the sound that a leaf blower makes.  
  • The sound coming from next door is unbearable. We have to tell them to be quiet. 
two-little-girls-whispering.jpg
  • Those children are so quiet! They are barely making a sound. 
rocky coast
  • The sound of water lapping the shoreline is very soothing. 
  • It makes a pleasant sound. 

b. sound (verb) = to form an impression or an opinion

Use “sound” as a stative verb that introduces an opinion. 

  • That sounds like a good idea. 
  • That sounds great! 
  • She sounds like she’s sick. 
  • The engine sounds bad. 
  • You sound as though you are unhappy about this. 
  • He doesn’t sound like he’s interested in her. 
  • They don’t sound very enthusiastic. 
  • You sound as if you are against this idea. 

c. Here are some phrases and expressions that include the word "sound."

If something hits you, you realize something to be true or amazing. 

  • He gave me some very sound advice. (sound advice = good advice) 
  • We have to sound the alarm and let everyone know that this is dangerous. (sound the alarm = warn others) 
  • Is this a sound investment? (sound investment = a good investment) 
  • I’m sorry to sound like a broken record, but we really have to start saving more money. (sound like a broken record = to repeat oneself) 
  • His speech was all sound and fury, but he didn’t offer any solutions. (all sound and fury = intense and emotional but lacking substance) 
  • I fell sound asleep after working a 12-hour shift. (sound asleep = in deep sleep) 
pexels-photo-366551-366551.jpg
  • Gold is a very sound investment. 
Calm Asian female wearing white pajama sleeping in comfortable bed with white sheets near modern mobile phone in morning
  • She’s sound asleep. 

 

You can click here to go to the English Vocabulary page.