Meaning & use
loud
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Making a lot of noise, or easy to hear from far away.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a verb: a loud noise; the music is loud.
Patterns
- loud noise
- loud voice
The music was so loud that we could not talk.
A loud bang woke the whole street.
He has a loud voice and never needs a microphone.
adjectivecomparabledisapproving
Too bright, bold, or flashy in color or pattern, so that it draws unwanted attention.
Grammar: Often before a noun when describing clothes: a loud shirt.
Patterns
- a loud shirt
- loud colors
He wore a loud tie with orange stripes.
The room's wallpaper was far too loud for my taste.
adverbcomparableinformal
At a high volume.
Grammar: Informal adverb used after a verb: speak loud, though loudly is also used.
Patterns
- say something loud
Don't talk so loud; the baby is sleeping.
Turn it up loud!
Word forms
| comparative | louder |
|---|---|
| superlative | loudest |
Common combinations
- loud and clear
- The message came through loud and clear.
- loud voice
- She called in a loud voice.
- out loud
- He read the letter out loud.
- loud noise
- A loud noise startled the dog.
- deafeningly loud
- The engine was deafeningly loud.
Synonyms and how they differ
- noisy
- Noisy describes a place or thing that makes lots of sound, often unpleasantly, while loud is about volume.
- deafening
- Deafening is much stronger and means so loud it hurts to hear.
- garish
- Garish is the better word for unpleasantly bright colors.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: loud or aloud?
loud vs aloud
Aloud means in a voice that can be heard, as in reading aloud, and is not a comparison of volume.
Practice
The neighbors' party was so ___ that nobody on the street could sleep.
Choose one answer.
After 'so' a plain adjective is needed to describe the party, so 'loud' fits. 'Loudly' is an adverb and the other options are comparison forms.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “loud”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.