voice

1 of 2

noun

ˈvȯis 

1

a

: sound produced by vertebrates by means of lungs, larynx, or syrinx

especially : sound so produced by human beings

b(1)

: musical sound produced by the vocal folds and resonated by the cavities of head and throat

(2)

: the power or ability to produce musical tones

(3)

: singer

(4)

: one of the melodic parts in a vocal or instrumental composition

(5)

: condition of the vocal organs with respect to production of musical tones

(6)

: the use of the voice (as in singing or acting)

studying voice

c

: expiration of air with the vocal cords drawn close so as to vibrate audibly (as in uttering vowels and consonant sounds as \v\ or \z\)

d

: the faculty of utterance

lost my voice

2

: a sound resembling or suggesting vocal utterance

3

: an instrument or medium of expression

the party became the voice of the workers

4

a

: wish, choice, or opinion openly or formally expressed

the voice of the people

b

: right of expression

also : influential power

5

: distinction of form or a system of inflections of a verb to indicate the relation of the subject of the verb to the action which the verb expresses

active and passive voices

voice

2 of 2

verb

voiced; voicing

transitive verb

1

: to express in words : utter

voice a complaint

2

: to adjust for producing the proper musical sounds

3

: to pronounce (a speech sound, such as a consonant) with voice

4

a

: to provide a voice-over for (something, such as a movie or commercial) : to narrate (a recorded production)

Actress Idina Menzel evoked her recent success voicing the movie "Frozen" with an icy all-white white concoction with a feathery train by Donna Karan Atelier.

—Jocelyn Noveck and Alicia Rancilio

b

: to perform the lines of (a character in an animated film, video game, etc.)

Featuring characters voiced by Will Ferrell and Morgan Freeman, the cartoon promises to be a real, ahem, blockbuster.

—Franz Lidz

Phrases

with one voice

: without dissent : unanimously

Synonyms

Noun

• say
• say-so
• vote

Verb

• air
• expound
• express
• give
• look
• raise
• sound
• state
• vent
• ventilate

Choose the Right Synonym for voice

express, vent, utter, voice, broach, air mean to make known what one thinks or feels.

express suggests an impulse to reveal in words, gestures, actions, or what one creates or produces.

expressed her feelings in music

vent stresses a strong inner compulsion to express especially in words.

a tirade venting his frustration

utter implies the use of the voice not necessarily in articulate speech.

utter a groan

voice does not necessarily imply vocal utterance but does imply expression or formulation in words.

an editorial voicing their concerns

broach adds the implication of disclosing for the first time something long thought over or reserved for a suitable occasion.

broached the subject of a divorce

air implies an exposing or parading of one's views often in order to gain relief or sympathy or attention.

publicly airing their differences

Examples of voice in a Sentence

Noun

He has a deep voice.

“Can we speak privately?” she said in a low voice.

a voice on the radio

We heard voices coming from the next room.

She does the voices for several cartoon characters.

I shouted so much that I lost my voice.

She has a terrific voice.

Town meetings give people a voice in local politics.

Listen to the voice of the people.

Please vote and make your voices heard!

Verb

The senator angrily voiced his objection to the bill.

voiced a suggestion about where to go

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Cukor provides her with every leeway to make her slinky walk, squeaky voice and astonishing malapropisms count for every possible laugh. —Thr Staff, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Dec. 2024

Allies can amplify and lift the voices of those who have been historically excluded, such as women, people of color, those with disabilities or those in the LGBTQ+ community. —Julie Kratz, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024

Verb

The Hill’s Mychael Schnell reports a handful of conservative House Republicans voiced concerns about Johnson to Trump even before last week’s government funding fiasco, prompting even more uncertainty about the Louisiana Republican’s grasp on the gavel weeks before the Speakership vote. —Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 24 Dec. 2024

Even our most uncomfortable emotions need to be voiced, says Lisa Marie Bobby, psychologist and founder of Growing Self Counseling & Coaching in Denver. —Aditi Shrikant, CNBC, 24 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old French vois, from Latin voc-, vox; akin to Old High German giwahanen to mention, Greek epos word, speech, Sanskrit vāk voice

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1612, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing voice

• at the top of one's voice
• cockpit voice recorder
• find one's voice
• give voice to
• in good voice
• inside voice
• keep one's voice down
• lose one's voice
• lower one's voice
• outside voice
• project one's voice
• raise one's voice
• singing voice
• speaking voice
• tone of voice
• voice box
• voice mail
• voice of moderation
• voice of reason
• voice-over
• voice part
• voice vote

Kids Definition

voice

1 of 2 noun

ˈvȯis 

1

a

: sound produced by vertebrates in the larynx or syrinx

especially : sound so produced by human beings (as in speaking)

b

: the power of speaking

lost my voice

2

a

: musical sound produced by the vocal cords

b

: the ability to sing

a singer with a great voice

c

: singer entry 1

one of the finest voices of our time

d

: one of the melodic parts in a vocal or instrumental composition

e

: condition of the vocal organs for singing

in good voice

3

: a sound like a vocal sound

the voice of the cricket

4

: a medium of expression

the newspaper was the voice of optimism

5

a

: wish, choice, or opinion openly or formally expressed

the law was passed despite many opposing voices

b

: the right to express a wish, choice, or opinion

students want a voice in school affairs

6

: a grammatical form showing the relation between the subject of a verb and the action which the verb expresses

voice

2 of 2 verb

voiced; voicing

1

: to express in words

voice a complaint

2

: to vibrate the vocal cords in pronouncing

voice a consonant

Medical Definition

voice

noun

ˈvȯis 

1

: sound produced by vertebrates by means of lungs, larynx, or syrinx

especially : sound so produced by human beings

2

: the faculty of utterance : speech

voice transitive verb

voiced; voicing