Meaning & use
voice
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
The sound that comes from a person's mouth when they speak or sing.
Grammar: Has a plural: voices.
Patterns
- in a quiet voice
- lose your voice
She has a warm, deep voice.
He lowered his voice so no one could hear.
I lost my voice after the concert.
nounsingular
The right or ability to say what you think and have it heard.
Grammar: Often followed by in: a voice in decisions.
Patterns
- a voice in something
- give someone a voice
Workers want a voice in how the company is run.
The campaign gives young people a voice.
Citizens have a voice at the ballot box.
verbtransitive
To say what you feel or think.
Grammar: Takes an object: voice a concern.
Patterns
- voice something
Several parents voiced concerns about the new schedule.
She voiced her disagreement politely.
He voiced his support for the plan.
noununcountabletechnical
A grammar term showing whether the subject does the action (active) or receives it (passive).
Grammar: Used with active or passive: the passive voice.
Patterns
- the active voice
- the passive voice
Write in the active voice to keep sentences short.
The passive voice hides who did the action.
'The ball was thrown' is in the passive voice.
Word forms
| plural | voices |
|---|---|
| third person singular | voices |
| past tense | voiced |
| past participle | voiced |
| -ing form | voicing |
Common combinations
- raise your voice
- Please don't raise your voice in the library.
- voice an opinion
- He voiced an opinion that surprised everyone.
- lose your voice
- I lost my voice after cheering all night.
- in a low voice
- She spoke in a low voice.
- inner voice
- Her inner voice told her to be careful.
Synonyms and how they differ
- say
- Say is a plain word for speech, while voice suggests a deliberate expression of feeling.
- express
- Express is wider and can use actions or art, whereas voice means spoken or written words.
- air
- Air a view implies making it known in public.
- say-so
- Say-so is informal and means permission or authority, not sound.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: voice or choice?
voice vs choice
Choice sounds similar but means a decision. Voice means sound or opinion.
Practice
At the meeting, several neighbors ____ their worries about the new road.
Choose one answer.
Voice as a verb takes an object such as worries, so voiced fits. Spoke would need about, and sounded and vocalled do not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “voice”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.