loud

UK: /ˈlaʊd/ US: /laʊd/ ,(loud)

Inflections of 'loud' (adj):

louder

adj comparative

loudest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

loud /laʊd/   adj., -er, -est, adv. 
adj. 

1. marked by high volume of sound:
   loud peals of thunder.
2. clamorous;
   noisy:
   a loud party.
3. too brightly colored;
   ostentatious:
   loud colors; a loud tie.

adv. 

4. in a loud manner: loudly:
   Don't talk so loud.

Idioms

5. Idioms out loud, aloud;
   so as to be heard:
   spoke out loud.

loud•ly, adv. 
loud•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

loud  (loud), adj., -er, -est, adv. 
adj. 

1. (of sound) strongly audible;
   having exceptional volume or intensity:
   loud talking;
   loud thunder;
   loud whispers.
2. making, emitting, or uttering strongly audible sounds:
   a quartet of loud trombones.
3. clamorous, vociferous, or blatant;
   noisy:
   a loud party; a loud demonstration.
4. emphatic or insistent:
   to be loud in one's praises; a loud denial.
5. garish, conspicuous, or ostentatious, as colors, dress, or the wearer of garish dress:
   loud ties; a loud dresser.
6. obtrusively vulgar, as manners or persons.
7. strong or offensive in smell.

adv. 

8. in a loud manner;
   loudly:
   Don't talk so loud.
9. Idioms out loud, aloud;
   audibly:
   I thought it, but I never said it out loud. Just whisper, don't speak out loud.

• bef. 900; Middle English; Old English hlūd; cognate with Old Frisian, Old Saxon hlūd (Dutch luid), Old High German hlūt (German laut); akin to Greek klytós famous

loud′ly, adv. 
loud′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. resounding; deafening; stentorian.
  Loud, noisy describe a strongly audible sound or sounds.
  Loud means characterized by a full, powerful sound or sounds, which make a strong impression on the organs of hearing:
  a loud voice, laugh, report.
  Noisy refers to a series of sounds, and suggests clamor and discordance, or persistence in making loud sounds that are disturbing and annoying:
  a noisy crowd.
• 5. gaudy, flashy, showy.

Antonyms

• 1. quiet.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

loud / laʊd/ adjective

1. (of sound) relatively great in volume: a loud shout
2. making or able to make sounds of relatively great volume: a loud voice
3. clamorous, insistent, and emphatic: loud protests
4. (of colours, designs, etc) offensive or obtrusive to look at
5. characterized by noisy, vulgar, and offensive behaviour

adverb

1. in a loud manner
2. out loud ⇒ audibly, as distinct from silently

Etymology: Old English hlud; related to Old Swedish hlūd, German laut

ˈloudly adverb

ˈloudness noun