WordGarden.ioresound
C2Pronunciation
UK
US
- /ˌriˈsaʊnd/
Meanings
Verb
to ring out loudly or echo through a place
to be loudly expressed or widely repeated in speech or public reaction
Beyond the definition
Imagine standing in an empty cathedral: when you speak, your voice doesn't just stop at the walls; it bounces back, filling the space with a rich, lingering sound. That's what it means to resound. It usually describes a sound that echoes strongly through a place. A hall may resound with applause, or a street may resound with laughter.
The word traces back to the Latin resonare, meaning "to sound back" or "echo." It is also used in a wider, more literary way for things that spread far and leave a strong effect. For instance, news of a great victory might resound throughout the land, suggesting that people everywhere hear of it and feel its importance.
To resound means to be filled with reverberating sound, creating a powerful echo that lingers in a space. Think of a booming drumbeat echoing through a canyon, or the triumphant peal of bells ringing out from a church tower—these sounds truly resound. It's more than just hearing a noise; it's experiencing its fullness and physical impact. When we say "the music resounded throughout the hall," we are describing a rich, immersive auditory experience that seems to saturate the very air.
However, "resound" isn't limited to the physical world. It is often used figuratively to describe words, news, or events that spread widely and have a strong effect. A famous historical decision might resound through the centuries, meaning its consequences and importance continue to be felt and discussed over time. Similarly, a leader's call to action could resound across a nation, suggesting it has reached a wide audience and sparked a collective response.
The key to the word is the idea of something continuing to echo, not only as sound but also in influence, reputation, or memory. We most often use it for places filled with sound or for words and events whose effects seem to carry outward. Whether describing a physical echo or the broad impact of an important event, to resound is to fill a space, literally or figuratively, with strong and lasting force.
Examples
- 1
Church bells
The church bells resounded across the valley at dawn.
- 2
Applause
The hall resounded with applause after her speech.
- Patternresound with + sound
be filled with that loud sound
- 3
Empty house
Her laugh resounded through the empty house.
- 4
Memory
His teacher’s warning still resounds in his mind.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Wider impact
The court’s decision resounded far beyond the legal world.
- Patternresound beyond + area
have an effect outside that area
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- fall silent
- die away
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- resound through the hall
- resound with applause
- resound throughout the building
Word family
Explore
- acoustics
- echo chamber
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- resoundverb
Forms
- resounding-ing formverb
- resoundedpast tenseverb
- resoundsverb